Vengeful ex-dairy farmer Dennis Kerkow, 71, sentenced after crushing woman under car for ‘sending him to prison’

A woman was left screaming for help after a former dairy farm labourer sent a car crashing down on top of her in a ‘disturbing’ act of revenge.

A former dairy farmer has walked free despite carrying out a sick act of revenge on his ex-partner, where he caused her to be crushed under a car and then told the terrified woman to die as she screamed for help.

Just five days after he was released from jail on March 25, Dennis Kerkow was travelling in the passenger seat of the victim’s car when he told her something was wrong with the vehicle.

She pulled to the side of the road in Kilkivan and used a scissor jack to check under the car.

Crown prosecutor James Bishop said when the victim asked Kerkow to help, he told her “no, you half-breed black b-tch” and put the car in neutral.

She heard the gears change and felt the car move slightly, pleading with the 71-year-old to stop.

Kingaroy Magistrates Court. File Photo.

While the woman was still lying under the car, Kerkow kicked the scissor jack out from under it causing the vehicle to fall on top of her.

“The car pinned her to the ground and she screamed out for help. She was so frightened that she urinated,” Mr Bishop said.

While she was trapped under the car he proceeded to taunt her, saying “die, you black b-tch” and “this is what you get for sending me to prison”.

Passing police stopped to help and freed her from the car.

Fortunately, she only suffered minor injuries to her chest and back.

Mr Bishop said Kerkow was interviewed by police and provided them with a “false and self-serving” version of events, suggesting the jack must have slipped.

Lawyer James Benjamin said Kerkow’s criminal history began with his relationship with the victim, telling the court his record was clean up until about five years ago.

Appearing in Kingaroy District Court via videolink from jail, Kerkow pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm while armed.

He was sentenced to two years in jail, which was suspend immediately taking into account 74 days of pre-sentence custody.

“This offending in my view is quite disturbing and serious, having regard to the fact that you said ‘die you black b-tch, you c--k loving b-tch. That is what you get for sending me to prison’,” Judge Orazio Rinaudo said.

“You’ll be released from prison today and I sincerely hope you don't go anywhere near this woman.”

Originally published as Vengeful ex-dairy farmer Dennis Kerkow, 71, sentenced after crushing woman under car for ‘sending him to prison’