A woman who threatened to stab a driver with a hospital needle she claimed was contaminated with AIDS has avoided a jail sentence.
Madeline Carly Blackwell, 38, pleaded guilty to attempted carjacking after the March 2024 incident on Harrington Street in Hobart, where she fled hospital mid-treatment with an intravenous cannula still attached.
The Supreme Court heard Blackwell approached a 35-year-old woman sitting in her parked Mazda and opened the driver’s door.
“Get out of the car. I have a needle. It has AIDS on it,” Blackwell said.
When the victim didn’t move, Blackwell thrust the cannula towards her in a stabbing motion.
“I will stab you with it. I am not messing around. I will stab you,” she said.
The court heard the victim began collecting her belongings and screamed for help, but Blackwell continued her attack.
“I am going to do it. I am going to do it. Just give me the keys,” Blackwell said, before grabbing the woman by her hair and dragging her from the vehicle.
Blackwell climbed into the driver’s seat and continued demanding the keys while gesturing with the bloodied cannula.
The victim genuinely believed she was about to be stabbed, the court was told.
Two bystanders intervened, blocking the car until police arrived minutes later.
Justice Stephen Estcourt heard Blackwell had been at the Royal Hobart Hospital following a panic attack when she became convinced the mafia was holding her four-year-old daughter hostage, triggered by an abusive phone call from the child’s father.
A pre-sentence report revealed Blackwell’s extensive history of substance abuse, including opioids and methamphetamine, stemming from surgery complications and multiple IVF miscarriages.
The report noted she had recently relapsed in August, using methamphetamine for a week after five months of sobriety.
Justice Estcourt sentenced Blackwell to an 18-month community correction order with mandatory drug treatment and mental health supervision.
“In all of the rather sad circumstances of this case, I see no reason not to accept the recommendation made by Community Corrections,” Justice Estcourt said.
