Michael Colin John Hicks pleads guilty to trying to run over girlfriend, assaulting her at Roma

A repeat domestic violence offender who maimed his former partner in a drug fuelled collision in Ipswich has continued his crimes against his new girlfriend.

Michael Colin John Hicks faced Maroochydore Magistrates Court by video from the watch-house this week. Picture: Patrick Woods

A repeat domestic violence offender who maimed his former partner in a drugged out highway crash has committed crimes against his new girlfriend.

Michael Colin John Hicks committed acts of violence against many of his previous romantic partners before subjecting his latest girlfriend to a series of shocking offences after being up for days on drugs.

Magistrate Linda Bradford-Morgan criticised the 33-year-old’s behaviour towards women, particularly those who he professed to love, as she sentenced the Caloundra man to more time behind bars.

Maroochydore Magistrates Court heard the extent of his crimes this week following his guilty pleas to 13 charges which included three counts of wilful damage, three of obstructing police, and one each of serious assault of police, dangerous operation of a vehicle and assault.

Police prosecutor Jeanette Grigoris said Hicks assaulted his latest partner on January 21 in the southwest town of Roma where he headbutted her in the face, which caused a significant injury to her eye.

Michael Colin John Hicks. Picture: Facebook

Later that day Hicks was driving in Euthulla, northeast of Roma, with his partner and another person when he told them to get out of the vehicle after an argument.

Sergeant Grigoris said the Caloundra man threatened the woman and the other passenger with a screwdriver and tried to splash petrol over them.

He then threatened to run them over with his vehicle, the court was told.

They were so fearful they fled to nearby homes and the police were called.

That afternoon police arrived at Hicks’ home, however he got into his car and drove over a tree to avoid their apprehension.

He nearly collided with their car and another motorist before Hicks drove off at speed while disqualified to his dad’s home nearby.

When he arrived he damaged a neighbour’s fence and pool with his car.

As police approached at the scene, the Caloundra man took off on foot but he was chased down and arrested.

The court was told Hicks was also involved in a violent incident at the watch-house in April this year after becoming drug affected due to meth which was secreted inside his anus.

In his paranoid rage he violently resisted police, injuring one of them.

Sergeant Grigoris said Hicks was on parole at the time for his latest crimes following a drug-fuelled crash at Ipswich in 2021 which maimed his former partner.

The aftermath of the crash Hicks caused on the Warrego Highway at Karalee in 2021. Picture: Katelyn Martin

Hicks caused a head-on collision on the wrong side of the Warrego Hwy while on meth which led to the woman, who was a passenger in the vehicle, suffering life threatening injuries. She was placed in a medically induced coma and put into intensive care. Surgery was also required.

He later pleaded guilty to and was sentenced for four charges which included dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing grievous bodily harm while adversely affected.

The 33-year-old was jailed for five years but given parole eligibility from April 13, 2023. The Caloundra man was released on parole the following year.

He pleaded guilty to all charges. Picture: Patrick Woods

Defence solicitor Katie Paterson said Hicks came from a prejudicial background and had essentially been institutionalised for a decade, with the time he spent after his Ipswich sentence being the longest in the community for quite some time.

Ms Paterson said Hicks was on track with his life with a job and housing, however he fell back into drug use after catching up with an old friend from prison.

She said the offending came in the context of being heavily affected by drugs where he was up for days and did not recollect the incidents out bush.

The solicitor said she was instructed Hicks was actually trying to get the two people back in the car.

Due to Hicks’ history and his absence of participation of rehabilitation, Ms Bradford-Morgan jailed Hicks for three years.

A parole eligibility date was set at June 25 next year. He was also disqualified from driving absolutely.

Originally published as Michael Colin John Hicks pleads guilty to trying to run over girlfriend, assaulting her at Roma