‘Not a woman basher:’ Jimmy Barling faces court after allegedly mowing down a woman

A Highton man has faced the Geelong Magistrates Court after allegedly using his vehicle to pin a woman to a fence on New Year’s Eve.

A Geelong man who allegedly knocked a woman off her bike and then threatened her with a baseball bat has faced court.

Highton man Jimmy Barling has appeared at the Geelong Magistrates’ Court via video link to hear charges of driving offences and using a dangerous article to assault someone.

Mr Barling, who has not yet entered a plea at this stage, will return to the court in August to determine the particulars of the charges.

On New Year’s Eve last year, Tara Evans was riding her bike along the intersection of Falcon Street and Robin Ave in Norlane when she allegedly heard the revving of a blue Subaru behind her.

Ms Evans appeared in court to allege Mr Barling drove up close to the footpath and tapped her back wheel to cause her to fall.

Jimmy Barling is accused of knocking a woman off her bike at the intersection of Falcon Street and Robin Ave in Norlane. Source: Google Maps.

She claimed Mr Barling then got out of his vehicle and starting yelling at her. Ms Evans told the court she got back onto her bike and told Mr Barling to “leave her alone” before riding away.

The court heard Mr Barling allegedly then drove down the footpath after Ms Evans and “kept trying to tap my bike”.

Ms Evans said “all of a sudden”, Mr Barling allegedly overtook her and then reversed back towards her bike so he could “wedge me between a car and fence”.

“I’m pretty sure my handlebars broke his driver’s side window, that’s how hard he had me wedged against the fence,” Ms Evans claimed.

Ms Evans then alleged Mr Barling grabbed a baseball bat from his car and got up into her face to “yell and scream”.

Defence lawyer Daniel McGlone clarified his client was “talking about the death of his father and accusing (Ms Evans) of saying something unkind about that”, which prompted the alleged incident.

Ms Evans alleged she was told by Mr Barling he was “not a woman basher” so he was going to beat up her partner instead.

A witness who observed the incident told the court he saw Mr Barling “waving” the bat towards Ms Evans but did not hit her.

Magistrate John Bentley was told the matters had almost been resolved and would need to return in August to determine if it will be heard in the Magistrates’ or County Court.

Originally published as ‘Not a woman basher:’ Jimmy Barling faces court after allegedly mowing down a woman