Yarran Minehan pleads guilty to common assault of woman over car keys

A woman has screamed for help after being confronted by a man who tried to steal her car keys.

Yarran Paul James Minehan faced Maroochydore Magistrates Court by video from jail on Friday. Picture: Facebook

A Victorian man could be released from prison in three months after he grabbed an older woman’s hand and demanded she give him her “f---ing keys”.

Yarran Paul James Minehan spent six months in jail up until his sentence in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Friday for a flurry of crimes despite already being on parole.

The Geelong West man was sentenced for the desperate and violent incident that left his victim frightened following his guilty pleas to common assault, stealing, attempted stealing, obstructing police and possessing drug utensils.

Police prosecutor Pedau Grabbe said the common assault involved Minehan grabbing the hand of a 67-year-old woman and demanding she give him the keys to her car after approaching from behind the vehicle.

The older woman immediately pulled her hand away and screamed for help. He then again tried to grab the keys from her hand.

“F--- you, give me your f---ing keys,” Senior Constable Grabbe quoted the 27-year-old saying.

The victim said she held the keys close to her body before he then demanded the keys again.

She yelled for help once more and Minehan fled.

Yarran Paul James Minehan in 2018.

Senior Constable Grabbe said the woman was left shaken and startled after the confrontation.

The court heard the Geelong West man came onto police radar again when officers were called to a disturbance in Maroochydore.

Police tried to arrest the 27-year-old when he attempted to pull his arms away. He braced himself before he tried to throw himself down the stairs.

Among his other crimes were possessing a pipe used for drugs and stealing alcohol.

He spent months in custody up until his sentence hearing on Friday after his parole was suspended, with his full time discharge date being August 4.

Defence solicitor Matthew Cooper, from Chelsea Emery and Associates, said it was acknowledged the fright Minehan gave the woman but claimed it came at a “time of desperation”.

Mr Cooper said it was during a stage of his life where the 27-year-old’s parole was suspended. He was also using drugs at the time.

The lawyer cited how there was low amount of violence used for Minehan, who was abandoned by his family at a young age and had his adult life marred by meth use.

He said Minehan knows he will have to serve jail time until August due to his parole suspension.

Magistrate Rod Madsen sentenced the Geelong West man to 80 days’ jail, with immediate parole eligibility.

Originally published as Yarran Minehan pleads guilty to common assault of woman over car keys