Tyrone Mobourne sentenced over Maffra road fatality that killed Corey Sullivan

The family of a Maffra dad fatally mowed down by a drug addict who’s never had a driver’s licence has slammed the sentence handed down to the killer driver.

The family of a beloved Maffra father of five fatally mowed down by his own car after it was stolen by heartless criminal has slammed the 18-month minimim sentence handed down to the killer driver.

Tyrone Mobourne, 26, struck Corey Sullivan just two doors from the latter’s parents’ home on Morrison St in Maffra on February 5, 2023 after he stole Mr Sullivan’s car.

Mobourne went on the run for nearly a month afterwards before he eventually handed himself in.

He was sentenced at the County Court on Friday to a maximum of two years and six months behind bars but will be eligible for parole after only 18 months.

Father of two Corey Sullivan died in a hit-run crash in Maffra.

Corey Sullivan's father Brett and sister Vanessa Robinson feel let down by the justice system after the man responsible for Corey’s death was sentenced to a minimum jail time of 18 months.

A charge of dangerous driving causing death was withdrawn and he pleaded guilty to charges of theft, failing to stop after an accident and failing to render assistance after an accident.

Mr Sullivan’s sister Vanessa Robinson, who was by his side when he died in hospital, told the Herald Sun outside court that the family felt “completely let down” by the justice system.

“Is 18 months enough for killing someone and leaving them? It feels like Corey was on trial…like he was almost held responsible for his own death,” she said.

The court heard Mobourne, who had never held a driver’s licence, stole Mr Sullivan’s Kia before the tragedy and was on bail on a charge of theft of a motor vehicle.

He mowed down Mr Sullivan shortly after being released from prison following a three-month sentence on various charges, including theft of a motor vehicle.

Prior to the death of Mr Sullivan, Mobourne had racked up 28 convictions for dishonesty offences, including six for theft of motor vehicles.

Ms Robinson said Mobourne had been given “ample opportunity to better himself”.

“My parents are broken, my mum has cancer and she’s not here because she’s going through chemotherapy,” she said.

“This has left my parents without a son and kids without a father.

“Being on bail and killing someone feels like nothing. I’ve seen what this man has done to my brother and left him on the side of the road. I don’t know how someone could do that. It’s inhumane.”

Tyrone Mobourne stole Corey Sullivan’s Kia before mowing him down in Maffra and going on the run for nearly a month. Picture: Supplied

Ms Robinson said while paramedics treated Mr Sullivan, Mobourne hid at another house before he fled the scene.

Judge Pardeep Tiwana said Mobourne went off the rails after his mothers’s death, had never worked and was on disability benefit.

He said Mobourne’s guilty plea, significant hardship from a young age, cognitive impairment, exposure to family violence, substance abuse and a lack of emotional support allowed the court to moderate his moral culpability.

However, he said hitting someone with a car then fleeing the scene was a “despicable, cowardly and morally reprehensive act”.

“It was your legal responsibility to remain at the scene following the collision. The wellbeing of Mr Sullivan should have been at the forefront of your mind, requiring you to provide him with assistance, at the very least, by calling the emergency services.”