Charlene Jean Barton sentenced to home detention for ploughing into man with car at Elizabeth East

A woman has learnt her fate after she got revenge for her partner by ploughing into a man with her car, leaving him hospitalised for several days.

A mother who ploughed into a man with her car could be heard revving her engine and driving erratically moments before, a court heard.

Charlene Jean Barton, 51, was told she avoided jail by “an exceedingly narrow margin” after she left the man hospitalised for several days.

During sentencing on Friday, the District Court heard Barton and her partner were with the victim, who she had known for a number of years, at a mutual friend’s house on August 30, 2019.

A physical altercation took place between Barton’s partner and the victim and they left.

The court heard Barton and her partner then drove to the victim’s Elizabeth East house and when the victim came out to investigate, they began yelling expletives at each other.

Charlene Barton was sentenced to home detention for causing harm with intent. Picture: Facebook

Barton then drove at the victim while he stood in his driveway but he moved out the way.

“He says he then heard you change gears before he was struck by the car, causing him to fall backwards into his driveway gate, striking his head,” Judge Kris Handshin said.

Prosecutors alleged Barton could be heard in a witness recording saying words to the effect of “trying to get that f***er”, but Judge Handshin said he was unable to determine what exactly was said and by whom.

The court heard the victim spent four days in hospital with multiple fractures and continues to experience excruciating pain as a result of the injuries, as well as depression and anxiety.

Barton, of Surrey Downs, pleaded guilty to causing harm with intent.

The court heard Barton said the victim assaulted her through the drivers side window, which triggered memories of previous domestic violence she suffered and she panicked.

However, Judge Handshin said that in the absence of Barton giving evidence, and witness accounts that described Barton driving erratically and revving the engine beforehand, he couldn’t accept her account.

He sentenced Barton, a former aged care worker and mother, to two years and 10 months jail, with a non-parole period of 18 months.

“It is fortunate, for both of you that he was not more seriously injured,” Judge Handshin said.

“Nothing that he had done could justify the violence you perpetrated against him that night.”

However, due to Barton’s limited criminal history and good prospects for rehabilitation she was ordered to serve the sentence on home detention.

Judge Handshin told Barton she avoided jail by an “exceedingly narrow margin” and warned her to strictly abide by the conditions of the order.

Originally published as Charlene Jean Barton sentenced to home detention for ploughing into man with car at Elizabeth East