Illawarra mother Sarah Delahunty jailed for armed carjacking of taxi at Wollongong

An aged care nurse who drove at a taxi driver after stealing his car told a court she committed the terrifying act while in a state of panic as she was fleeing her abusive partner.

Sarah Delahunty caught on security camera inside the taxi she carjacked in the Wollongong CBD. Picture: NSW Police

An aged care nurse who drove at a taxi driver after stealing his car told a court she committed the terrifying act while in a state of panic as she was fleeing her abusive partner.

Sarah Rose Delahunty faced Wollongong District Court on Friday where she was jailed by Judge David Arnott for a maximum of four years and two months after pleading guilty to multiple charges.

The 32-year-old mother had previously pleaded guilty to assault with intent to rob while armed with a weapon, stealing a car, destroying or damaging property and two counts of furnishing false information.

Documents tendered in court state the ordeal took place in the early hours on May 17, 2022, in the Wollongong CBD.

Delahunty hailed a taxi near Wollongong train station, shortly after 3am. The offender directed the victim about 3km to an address on Abercrombie St, West Wollongong, where he turned the cab light on to collect the fare.

Sarah Delahunty hailed the taxi at the intersection of Gladstone Ave and Crown St in Wollongong. Picture: Google Maps

“Give me the money,” Delahunty threatened as she pulled a 15cm screwdriver from her backpack.

The man cried “help, help”, before the offender grabbed his jumper and demanded: “Give me the money now.”

CCTV of Sarah Delahunty moments before entering the taxi. Picture: NSW Police

The documents state the victim was able to escape the vehicle before Delahunty drove off, travelling about 1km where CCTV in the taxi recorded her rummaging around. About $50 in change was in the taxi.

The driver was on the phone to triple-0 when Delahunty returned and careered towards him, knocking the victim to the ground.

Sarah Delahunty seated in the back of the taxi. Picture: NSW Police

Documents state the victim, thinking he was about to die, tried to flee but was struck again by the stolen taxi, which then hit a brick wall.

The documents also state Delahunty brazenly attempted to hit the victim a third time, but missed before abandoning the taxi at Roy Johanson Park where she ran off.

The victim was taken to Wollongong Hospital after sustaining multiple fractures, swelling, tenderness and skin grazes.

Earlier this week, Delahunty gave evidence she was in an abusive relationship marred by heroin and ice and, on the night of the carjacking, she was running away from her partner.

“I was very panicked,” she told the court.

“I didn’t know what to do. I just wanted to get away from him … I was stressed.”

Sarah Delahunty will be in jail until at least August, 2026. Picture: Facebook

The court heard after running away from the scene Delahunty spent the night hiding in bushes with the offender going on to say she was “very very sorry” for her “completely out of character” conduct.

Defence barrister Daniel Pace submitted this was a “particularly exceptional” case involving a woman with a “respected background in nursing and caring for her community” spiralling during to being subjected for “fairly horrendous conduct”.

“This case is a completely and utterly poor example for general deterrence,” Mr Pace said.

On Friday, Judge Arnott said the sentencing procedure in this case was “not easy”, but submitted despite her circumstances there was “no sentence appropriate less than full-time custody”.

The judge imposed a non-parole period of two years and six months and, with more than a year already served, she will be eligible for release in August, 2026. The full term will expire in April, 2028.

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