Men charged for allegedly drunkenly hijacking supermarket worker’s vehicle
A Darwin supermarket worker was allegedly hijacked by a pair looking for their Uber driver in a boozy Melbourne Cup day encounter. But the alleged offenders didn’t get far.
Police & Courts
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Police allege an Uber mix-up led to two men drunkenly hijacking a supermarket worker’s car, and driving it directly into a nearby bike rack.
Northern Watch Commander Sonia Kennon alleged a 25-year-old man and a 40-year-old man tried to flag down a 39-year-old Darwin Woolworths worker finishing his shift on Melbourne Cup day.
Ms Kennon alleged the worker was leaving the supermarket car park on Cavenagh St when he was flagged down by the pair at 8.20pm on Tuesday November 1.
She said the pair believed the supermarket worker was their Uber driver and asked him to drive them home.
Ms Kennon said when the supermarket worker refused, they allegedly jumped into the back of his vehicle and threw out a bike which was on the rear seat.
The worker jumped out of the vehicle to get his bike, only to be allegedly assaulted by the 25-year-old man who threw him to the ground.
Ms Kennon alleged the supermarket worker was left with a grazed elbow and soft tissue damage.
It was alleged that as the younger man assaulted the driver, the 40-year-old man got into the front seat and immediately drove the vehicle into a bicycle rack.
Ms Kennon said the pair then allegedly fled the scene.
She said CCTV captured the alleged incident, with the pair arrested and held in Palmerston Watch House overnight.
She alleged the 40-year-old had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.171, more than three times the legal limit.
Serious Crime detectives have charged the 40-year-old with assault with intent to steal, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, high-range drink driving and driving without due care.
The 25-year-old was charged with assault with intent to steal and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.
Both were bailed to appear in Darwin Local Court on December 7.
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