Guilty plea over violent Frankston carjacking, attack on teenage girl
DRUG-fuelled carjackers who dragged a teenage girl along a road as she tried to rescue her puppy from the stolen car have pleaded guilty to a string of charges.
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TWO men accused of a violent carjacking that caused shocking injuries to a teenage girl when she was dragged 50 metres along a road have pleaded guilty to a string of charges.
Eddie Wells 31, and Damien Grimsey, 24, admitted carjacking then 18-year-old Taylor Hall’s Renault convertible after crashing a stolen car during a police pursuit in Frankston on January 22.
Ms Hall, was dragged along the road while trying to rescue her eight-month-old pup, Luna, from the back seat of the car as it was driven off by Mr Wells.
When the vehicle hit a kerb she was flung from the vehicle smacking her face into the concrete.
TEENAGE GIRL ATTACKED IN FRANKSTON CARJACKING
Ms Hall told the County Court her plans to become a dental assistant have been delayed, lost a tooth and four veneers and required plastic surgery on a badly cut lip.
“No matter how hard I try it has become extremely difficult to move forward and become myself again,” her victim impact statement said.
“I haven’t been able to go out to celebrate any of my friend’s birthdays or even my own 19th because I didn’t feel confident enough, like it was worth the embarrassment that I would feel every time I smiled in public.
“I felt the world looking down on me like I wasn’t worth anything.”
Ms Hall said the incident had caused her physical, emotional social and financial struggles.
“I’ve had numerous surgeries including a lip reconstruction, my chin stitched up, broken toe, tooth implant, gum trimming … and three teeth repaired.
“I gained skin abrasions all over my body which have resulted in scars which will always stay a reminder.”
The teen said she had suffered flashbacks, a breakdown at work, struggled to sleep, had become distant from friends and family and was scared to drive alone.
The court heard Wells and Grimsey were under the influence of drugs before the carjacking when they were stopped by police in a Nissan that had been reported stolen when Wells suddenly accelerated into the back of a police car before reversing into another police vehicle and three other cars behind him.
They then took off at high speed and were chased by police before crashing the car.
The unemployed pair pleaded guilty to an array of offences including possession of a gun without a license, reckless conduct, carjacking, attempted carjacking, theft, resisting an emergency services worker and criminal damage.
Wells, who was on a community corrections order at the time, also pleaded guilty to reckless conduct endangering life for almost hitting a pedestrian while running a red light and drug possession.
Grimsey pleaded to driving while disqualified and attempted deception.
Judge Mark Gamble adjourned the matter until next week.