Sharmaine Louise Karlish: Woman pleads guilty to chasing partner with car through Dalby

A man was running for his life as a mum was driving on the wrong side of the road, yelling ‘get in the f---ing car dog’ while her young kids were in the back seat.

A woman who dangerously chased down her partner and forced him to run for his life with her children in the car has escaped a conviction.

Dalby Magistrates Court heard Sharmaine Louise Karlish caused her partner to flee on foot after she began pursuing him in her car on Valentine’s Day.

Concerned witnesses phoned police after they saw the Dalby woman desperately chasing the man, at some points driving on the wrong side of the road.

The court heard Karlish could be heard yelling “get in the f---ing car, dog”, with her children in the back seat.

Police say Karlish nearly collided with oncoming cars multiple times, with the 32-year-old eventually letting her children exit the vehicle when it was stopped.

Sharmaine Louise Karlish leaving court.

The disturbing chase continued as the man began running through Dalby, before he hopped into a friend’s vehicle.

Karlish pursued the other car through Cunningham and Drayton Streets, beeping and swearing at them and pulling out in front of their vehicle.

The incident eventually ended when the associate’s car stopped and the aggrieved spoke to Karlish, with the mother located by police later that day.

Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins said Karlish was involved in a bizarre incident of public nuisance along New Street on February 3, where she yelled at a woman, called her an “old sl-t”, and said she’d “ram [her] head into the bitumen”.

Defence solicitor Jessica Hine said the mother of four had been engaging with a psychologist and a counsellor.

Magistrate Kerrie O’Callaghan said the pursuit was quite “prolonged” and “concerning” as her children were in the car.

“It could’ve resulted in much more serious consequences,” she said.

Karlish pleaded guilty to public nuisance, and two counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

She was sentenced to nine months’ probation, and disqualified from driving for two years.

A conviction wasn’t recorded.

Originally published as Sharmaine Louise Karlish: Woman pleads guilty to chasing partner with car through Dalby