Bruce Raymond Hillery sentenced for citizens arrest after pursing stolen car
A decorated Australian Army soldier who performed a citizen’s arrest after he was rammed by a stolen car has been sentenced.
Townsville
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- Bruce Raymond Hillery faces court over alleged Flinders St car ramming
- Bruce Raymond Hillery charged with two counts of dangerous operation of a vehicle
A decorated Australian Army soldier who performed a citizen’s arrest after he was rammed by a stolen car has been sentenced.
Bruce Raymond Hillery, 49, was driving to his Hermit Park home when he identified a stolen Mazda CX-5 on Ross River Rd on February 16 last year.
The Townsville Magistrates Court heard Hillery called police at 7.05pm to report the stolen Mazda when the vehicle rammed his Amarok.
An occupant of the stolen vehicle started throwing objects at Hillery’s car and momentarily pulled out a knife.
The court heard Hillery then rammed the stolen Mazda and pursed the vehicle into the city running two red lights.
Hillery collided with the stolen Mazda on Flinders St causing the stolen vehicle to spin 180 degrees onto the other side of the road crashing in front of the National Australia Bank building.
The occupants of the stolen Mazda decamped and carjacked the woman driver of an orange commodore with a knife who stopped to assist the crashed vehicle.
Senior police prosecutor Darryn Casson said Hillery attempted to perform a citizens arrest on the innocent woman.
“The defendant has run towards the (woman) and said, ‘get on the ground, get on the ground. Roll over. We are arresting you. Get on the ground you f--king c--t’,” he said.
“(A witness) has intervened, yelling at the defendant, ‘not her you f--king idiot, she’s just been carjacked’.”
He pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a vehicle and drive without due care and attention or drive without reasonable consideration for other persons using road or place.
Defence barrister Rowan Pack said his client had “reacted poorly” and had served in the Australia Army for 15 years.
“In hindsight it would have been sensible for him to have simply ignored what was occurring,” he said.
“He accepts that he went too far.”
Mr Pack said Hillery had been awarded the Australian Service Medal, Australian Long-Service Medal and Afghanistan Medal for his service in the army.
The court heard Hillery was left with the damage bill to his vehicle as insurance would not cover the costs.
Magistrate Viviana Keegan told Hillery his driving could have caused serious injury or death.
“Whilst the Townsville community has certainly had a gutful of stolen cars and the way they are driven around town,” she said.
“You are creating an even bigger danger by following the car and engaging in that type of behaviour.”
Hillery was sentenced to 100 hours of community service.
He was disqualified from holding a drivers licence for six months.
No convictions were recorded.
elisabeth.silvester1@news.com.au
Originally published as Bruce Raymond Hillery sentenced for citizens arrest after pursing stolen car
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