Kristin O’Brien: Driver ran over man on purpose in Cronulla rampage

A victim was “extremely lucky” not to be severely injured after a rampaging driver in Sydney’s south struck him on purpose with a 4WD.

A victim was “extremely lucky” not to be left maimed after being run over by a 4WD in a frightening rampage at Cronulla, a court has heard.

Kristin “Kris” O’Brien, 51, from Sutherland, beamed into the NSW District Court on video link from prison on Friday for a pre-sentence hearing.

O’Brien was found guilty at trial of purposely crashing a Mitsubishi Pajero 4WD into another man on Flinders Rd in Cronulla in January 2020.

Flinders Rd in Cronulla.

The court heard O’Brien claimed there was a serious dispute between one of his friends and the victim prior to the attack.

The 46-year-old victim suffered injuries to his arms and torso after being run over by O’Brien, with the incident unfolding shortly after midnight on January 19 last year.

The victim said “I struggle everyday of my life” as a result of being struck by the vehicle, in a victim impact statement.

Judge Penelope Hock said the serious incident could have resulted in severe injury.

“He was extremely lucky that the wheels passed over him and he had relatively minor physical injuries.”

He will be sentenced later this month in the Downing Centre District Court.

O’Brien was initially charged with attempted murder but that offence was downgraded.

He was found guilty by a jury of two serious offences including use offensive weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, both of which he pleaded not guilty to.

O’Brien, who remains in custody on remand, sat quietly inside an audio visual suite during his pre-sentence hearing sporting a lengthy beard.

Judge Hock will hand down her sentence on July 30.