Huon William Gendall sentenced for ‘disturbing’ actions

A man has been sentenced for a range of driving, drug and firearm offences, including riding a motorbike into a police officer.

A DRUG trafficker who drove his motorbike into a police officer and tried to avoid arrest in Hobart will be released from custody after he was sentenced today.

Huon William Gendall, 27, pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court in Hobart in October to assaulting a constable on July 1 this year and drug trafficking charges between October 27, 2018, and July 1, 2019.

He pleaded guilty to the lesser charges of speeding, displaying false number plates, evading police, possessing a glass smoking pipe, possessing a laser pointer in a public place, unlawfully possessing a dangerous article in a public place, possessing a taser and possessing ammunition.

In sentencing Gendell in the Supreme Court in Launceston, Justice Robert Pearce said Gendell caused injuries to the police officer, including a broken finger.

He said the officer was riding a police bike on the Brooker Highway on July 1 when he detected Gendell riding at 120km/h in an 80km/h zone and displaying a false number plate.

When Gendell pulled up at a set of traffic lights, the officer approached him on foot, stood in front of him and instructed him to stop.

Gendell walked his bike backwards, revved it and drove it at the officer.

The constable grabbed the front of the bike and was carried 10m before pulling the bike and Gendell to the ground.

Gendall got up and ran away from the scene, but the officer caught up to and arrested him.

Police found quantities of the drug ice in Gendall’s jacket, and later found three mobile phones, a laser pointer, a Leatherman and a pocket knife.

He had never held a motorcycle licence and his driver’s licence had expired in October 2018.

About two months earlier, police had searched a South Hobart home where Gendall was living, as well as a van, and found quantities of ice with a street value of more than $18,000, opioid tablets and 10 ice pipes.

Gendall was also charged with trafficking in ecstasy and cannabis.

Justice Pearce said the assault caused injuries to the police officer’s right hand and knee, including a fractured finger and general stiffness.

He said the bodily harm was not minor and carried the need for deterrence and punishment.

“Incidents like this can be disturbing even for a robust and experienced police officer,” Justice Pearce said.

Justice Pearce sentenced Gendell to five months in prison for the assault and one month for evading police backdated to July 1.

He suspended Gendell from driving for 18 months for the driving offences.

The dangerous and illegal items were ordered to be surrendered to the state.

Gendell was fined $21,200 for the benefits he received from selling drugs, ordered to forfeit $1679 in cash that was located by police and believed to have been the proceeds of crime, and was ordered to pay the state $5670 to cover costs.

Justice Pearce said the community as a whole would benefit from the making of a drug treatment order and Gendell had completed programs while in jail and had a supportive mother.

Gendell was sentenced to time served since his arrest on July 1.