Jack Chambers sentenced to 12 years jail for attempted murder of woman

A man strangled his victim in a motel room while telling her “I hope you die” before he began stalking her and eventually attempted to take her life at Murchison.

Jack Chambers strangled his victim while telling her “I hope you die” before he tried to kill her by running her off the road.

A man who strangled his victim while saying “I hope you die” in a motel room before running her off the road at Murchison two months later has been jailed.

Jack Chambers, 34, was sentenced to a minimum of 7 years and 8 months prison in the Shepparton Supreme Court on Thursday on charges of attempted murder, stalking and five counts of conduct endangering life.

Chambers strangled his victim twice in a Seymour motel room in November 2022, saying “die, I hope you die,” before she lost consciousness.

His victim then left and reported the incident to the Seymour police station and he was interviewed by police later that evening and released on bail.

In January 2023, Chambers began stalking his victim.

On January 12, he followed her in a rental car as she travelled on Toolamba Rd, Murchison.

Chambers then drove beside her car, swerved left, and caused her vehicle to spin three times before crashing into a road sign and trees.

She managed to get out of the car but Chambers pushed her against the bonnet and punched her four times.

Using a rental car on January 12, Jack Chambers followed his victim in her car as she was travelling on Toolamba Rd, Murchison before ramming her off the road. Picture: Google

She fled and flagged down another car for help at which point Chambers re-entered his rental car and drove at 52km/h into the Kia Sportage, which had Shannon Gregory and three others inside, injuring them.

Ms Gregory, who suffered fractured ribs as a result of the collision, said in a victim impact statement she found it hard to comprehend she was treated as collateral damage.

The court heard Ms Gregory did not feel safe driving around and was less likely to help others on the road since the incident.

The victim, now aged 25, said “she felt her world had been turned upside down” by Chambers offending.

The court heard the victim thought she would not be alive without the intervention of strangers.

Police found letters in the rental car addressed to the victim’s and Chambers’ families.

“Please cremate me, I want my ashes placed with (the victim’s),” one letter read.

Chambers was sentenced in the Shepparton Supreme Court. Picture: Jack Colantuono

Justice Jane Dixon said Chambers’ stalking and eventual attempt at murder took a “concerning level of determination”.

Justice Dixon said Chambers offending was an “objectively serious example of attempted murder”.

The court heard Chambers grew up in Bendigo before moving to SA and NSW as an adult, and had battled gambling and alcohol problems.

He was also diagnosed with austim, ADHD and had traits of borderline personality disorder, the court heard.

Chambers will serve a maximum of 12 years jail.