Tradie Jarrod Kent sentenced over road rage, hospital attack

A father of two young girls has blamed a forearm injury and drug addiction for a string of bad behaviour on the roads – even claiming ADHD meds led to a positive meth reading behind the wheel.

A father of two young girls has been labelled an “absolute drongo” after he acted “like a maniac” in an unprovoked road rage incident with another driver.

Jarrod Kent, 42, repeatedly swerved in and out of his lane before squirting a blue liquid at the vehicle a woman was attempting to drive.

Prosecutor Peri Cardiff told Mackay Magistrates Court on Thursday Kent also brandished a knife and yelled at the woman before swerving again and then speeding up, forcing her to brake heavily to avoid a crash.

She said Kent drove through a red light before again squirting the blue liquid at the woman and yelling again.

“It doesn’t appear the parties were known to each other. She provided a rego and description. It appears it is entirely unprovoked,” Ms Cardiff said.

Jarrod Kent pleaded guilty to a number of charges in Mackay Magistrates Court. Picture: Facebook

Kent pleaded guilty to driving without due care on May 1 2020, carrying a knife in a public place, public nuisance, driving under the influence of a drug or liquor on November 17 2019, drug driving repeat offender on December 8 2019, driving off without playing for $97 worth of fuel as well as other drug and driving offences.

He also pleaded guilty on Thursday to three offences at Ayr Hospital – causing $604 damage to a laptop and $1019.33 damage to the cart it was sitting on, conduct causing a public nuisance when he called hospital staff “f--king nuts” and obstructing police on June 16, 2020.

Ms Cardiff submitted documents to the court showing police had detected methamphetamines in Kent’s system on one driving intercept as well as amphetamines and methamphetamine on a second occasion.

She said Kent told police he had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and was taking dexamphetamine that would metabolise into amphetamine and methamphetamine.

Ms Cardiff tendered a document showing that was not the case.

Jarrod Kent pleaded guilty to a number of offences at Ayr Hospital. Picture: Facebook

Magistrate Damien Dwyer said Kent had a history of excessively speeding and drug driving himself yet he had “the hide and arrogance to abuse someone else” on the roads.

“When I see these ugly due care and attention (charges), I always go through the history and think I must have the world’s best driver here who can sit there and abuse other people for their manner of driving,” he said.

“I’m assuming with all this history you have, which is substantial, you’ve never cut anybody off in your life?

“When you were driving at excessive speed limits, you never put anybody’s life at risk because you’re a perfect driver?

“Then when someone does it to you, you act like a maniac, an absolute drongo.

“In my view, you’re very lucky this isn’t a dangerous driving.

“You’re swerving towards (her) on the bridge so she has to swerve away from you and then you throw a substance over her vehicle.

“It’s just childish rubbish.”

Jarrod Kent has been sentenced over a number of driving incidents. Picture: Facebook

Defence solicitor Peter Clark said Kent was working as a carpenter and concreter on four mine sites, sometimes up to 84 hours a week.

He said his client, born in Port Hedland in Western Australia, left school after Year 10 to pursue a trade.

Mr Clark said his client, a father of two daughters aged six and three, suffered a long-term injury to his left forearm in 2014 that led to four surgeries over five years.

“That’s significant because it coincides with his criminal behaviour or drug addiction taking hold of him,” he said.

Jarrod Kent has been disqualified from driving for 20 months. Picture: Facebook

“He concedes to the court that in most of the incidents before the court today he was suffering in the grips of an addiction to methylamphetamine.

“He describes some initial use of marijuana as beneficial for the hand but that escalated to methylamphetamine use and he lost control.

“His employment will cease because he relies on transport to get to and from various mine sites.”

Mr Dwyer sentenced Kent to a four-month good behaviour bond and ordered he complete a drug diversion course.

He told Kent he had 28 days to pay a $3750 fine and ordered he pay $3441 in restitution.

Kent was disqualified from driving for a total of 20 months.

“Go out and grow up,” Mr Dwyer said.

Convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Tradie Jarrod Kent sentenced over road rage, hospital attack