A Launceston teenager has avoided jail after reversing his car and accelerating into two young women in a CBD car park, pinning them by the legs against their own vehicle and leaving a 16-year-old girl with serious injuries.
Jack James-Barnes, 19, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm and common assault over the incident on May 30, 2025.
Supreme Court Justice Michael Brett sentenced James-Barnes to 15 months imprisonment, wholly suspended for 18 months, along with 186 hours of community service and an 18-month probation order.
He was also disqualified from driving for two years.
The court heard James-Barnes and his partner had been driving around Launceston’s CBD when they had several hostile interactions with the two women, who were in a separate vehicle.
The exchanges involved verbal abuse and drinks being thrown into James-Barnes’ car.
Brett described the lead-up as “ridiculous and juvenile sparring” but said it took a serious turn when James-Barnes drove to where the women were standing in an inner-city car park.
After an argument involving rocks and bottles being thrown, James-Barnes revved his engine and lurched his car towards the pair before reversing about five metres and accelerating at them.
His car pinned both women by the legs for about three seconds before he reversed and drove off.
The 16-year-old suffered a blocked artery behind her right knee and a large hematoma.
She was flown to the Royal Hobart Hospital for emergency surgery and was wheelchair-bound for three months.
The court heard James-Barnes had been subjected to two years of bullying and harassment by a group that included the two women, stemming from an allegation he had sexually assaulted his ex-partner – an allegation he denies.
He has also been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and ADHD.
“Your condition does not excuse your conduct but does explain why you reacted to the provocation perceived by you in a way which was clearly out of character,” Brett said.
