Tony Simpson sentenced for assault, car theft in Darwin

A woman who met up with a man in Palmerston to smoke meth was bashed before her car was stolen. Details.

Tony Simpson has been sentenced for his role in a bashing in Palmerston last year. Source: Facebook.

A young Darwin man who took part in the bashing of a woman before stealing her car has been sentenced.

On November 4, 2024, Tony Allan Simpson faced the Darwin Local Court via video link to plead guilty to aggravated assault and stealing a motor last year in Palmerston.

on the evening of Tuesday, October 24, 2023, Simpson was contacted by a woman over Facebook to meet up and smoke methamphetamine with her.

Court documents show Simpson agreed to meet the woman at Marlow’s Lagoon, Palmerston and took along an acquaintance, Kaylee Anne McInnes, as well.

The court heard the woman drove to the site where Simpson climbed into the front passenger seat and told her Ms McInnes was nearby and wanted to speak to her.

The woman said she did not want to speak to her.

Tony Simpson was in jail for almost 12 months before pleading guilty to the assault. Source: Facebook.

McInnes allegedly approached the woman, allegedly telling her “we have to sort it out” before pulling the car door open, kicking the woman in the head and pulling her out by her hair while Simpson pushed her from behind.

McInnes allegedly stood over the woman, calling her a “sl--” and dog” while bombarding her with a flurry of punches.

As the assault continued, Simpson sat himself behind the wheel of the victim’s car, driving it away before abandoning it on a dirt track near Channel Island Road.

More than a year on from the incident, Simpson pleaded guilty to the assault and car theft.

Simpson’s lawyer told the court his client had made “full admissions” to the attack and was ready to move on.

“The time he has spent in custody on remand is quite lengthy and significant.”

Simpson is now a free man after spending more than a year in custody. Source: Facebook.

The court heard Simpson, originally from NSW, had work experience in truck driving and fencing.

Judge Therese Austin described the incident as “disturbing”.

“The vulnerability of the complainant is clear – she’s trusting people and they’re all involved in something they shouldn’t be,” she said.

“Then she’s assaulted – the purpose of it doesn’t appear to be money or anything, it’s just a nasty, violent attack because of a personal perception of a relationship.”

Simpson was released after his sentence of 11 months and three weeks imprisonment was backdated to include time served.

Ms McInnes, who is on bail, is yet to enter a plea to aggravated assault, aggravated robbery and theft.