A BALLARAT woman who admitted to being an “accessory” to a violent hit-and-run incident which left a woman with multiple facial fractures, has avoided jail.
Emily Dwyer, 21, faced Ballarat Magistrates Court yesterday where she pleaded guilty to a number of charges relating to the incident on March 5 this year.
The court heard Dwyer was a passenger in a $50,000 Toyota Landcruiser, stolen from Ballarat Toyota earlier that day by her brother.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Bob Anderson said Dwyer “suspected at an early stage” the vehicle was stolen, but remained inside.
He said the vehicle was in Little Clyde Street about 5.30pm, when Dwyer initiated conversation with a female pedestrian.
Sergeant Anderson said
Dwyer asked the woman for directions to an address in Wendouree, before her brother drove off and did a u-turn back towards the woman.
The court heard the vehicle was driven at the woman three times before Dwyer’s brother reached out and tried to grab the woman’s handbag.
“The victim retained possession and it dragged her along the ground,” Sergeant Anderson said.
She was left screaming on the roadway and was helped by a passer-by.
Defence lawyer Karen Chibert said Dwyer did not realise the woman had been dragged after the bag-snatch attempt, until she was interviewed by police later that night.
“Of course she is horrified by what happened to this woman,” she said.
“She wishes she never got into the car ... this is something very out of character for her.”
Ms Chibert said her client was a mother of two who didn’t use alcohol or drugs and was extremely remorseful over the incident.
Magistrate Frank Jones mentioned the “enormous” effect the incident has had on the victim before sentencing Dwyer.
She received a 12 month community corrections order, which includes 150 hours of community work.
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