Jarratt Lindsay Horsfall fronts Toowoomba court for shocking baseball bat and machete crimes

Two women were confronted by a terrifying situation while waiting at an intersection just west of Toowoomba’s city centre, when an armed man randomly attacked their cars.

Picture: File

Two Toowoomba women were confronted by a terrifying situation while waiting at an intersection just west of the city centre, when an armed man randomly attacked their cars.

A court was told the separate incidents occurred on consecutive nights around midnight, and that the attacker, Jarratt Lindsay Horsfall, did not know the drivers.

Horsfall fronted Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Thursday, May 4, and pleaded guilty to going armed to cause fear and the wilful damage of two vehicles.

Police prosecutor Anita Page said the first incident happened on August 1, 2022, when the first victim stopped at the James and West streets intersection at Newtown.

The usually busy Newtown intersection, where two women were approved by an armed Jarratt Horsfall who randomly damaged their cars during a late-night attack. Picture: Google Maps

Ms Page said the woman spotted Horsfall at her rear door armed with what looked like a baseball bat, before he began striking the car, damaging her tray and denting a door.

The following night another woman saw Horsfall on the road, but this time he picked up a rock and threw it at the driver’s side window.

Ms Page said the woman was fearful and braced herself for an explosion of glass, however, it was only chipped.

The court was told the woman then saw Horsfall pull out a large machete before she quickly drove away and called the police.

Ms Page said officers called in the dog squad to track Horsfall, who was found in a nearby backyard with a second knife.

He was taken to the watch house and released on bail.

The court was told days before appearing on the charges, Horsfall was sentenced to a 12 month jail term with immediate parole, after pleading guilty to assaulting his female housemate.

Horsfall had punched the woman in the head a number of times in December 2020.

Solicitor Ryan McCullough said Horsfall had significant mental health issues, including psychosis, which resulted in him being admitted to a mental health unit for three weeks.

He said at the time, Horsfall was in an extremely bad state, but had since improved.

The Toowoomba courthouse. Picture: NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

Mr McCullough said Horsfall had a rough childhood as his parents were alcoholics, which led to him moving in with his grandparents at age 7.

He also noted if Horsfall had all of the charges dealt with at the same time, the assault and the car incidents, it was likely he would not have received a higher penalty.

Magistrate Clare Kelly agreed with that submission, and sentenced Horsfall to a six month jail term with immediate parole, which was to run concurrently with his current 12 month sentence.

Ms Kelly told Horsfall his actions were very distressing and she hoped he continued to address his mental health issues.