A MILLICENT man has received a lengthy prison sentence for breaking into a man’s home and assaulting him before dragging a police officer for 15 metres with his vehicle.
Harley David Wimshurst-Quin, 24, appeared in the Adelaide District Court and was sentenced to five years and eight months imprisonment with a four year and six month non-parole period.
He was sentenced for the offending, which occurred on two separate occasions.
The first incident occured on February 9, last year when the defendant attended a Mount Gambier home where he had previously purchased cannabis.
In company with two others, he attended the premises to complain about not receiving the “proper weight” of the drug.
While one of the co-accused held the victim down, Wimshurst-Quin entered the home with the other co-accused.
The defendant stole “marijuana cookies” from the freezer and some PlayStation parts before leaving.
The victim reported the incident to police on February 12, however before the defendant could be apprehended, he returned to the home.
Wimshurst-Quin attended the premises at 3.30am in the morning while intoxicated and in the company of one of the co-accused.
They rang the doorbell and the victim answered before hearing his windows being smashed.
The victim ran through the house and out onto the street before calling police.
The police pulled up next to the car the defendant and co-accused were travelling in.
The officer attempted to remove the key from the ignition of the vehicle, but the defendant was able to drive away with the officer’s arm still inside the car.
He was dragged about 15 metres along the road before he was able to release himself.
Judge Gordon Barrett said the offending was extremely serious.
“The victim impact statement of the householder makes it clear how frightened he was by both of these visits,” Judge Barrett said.
“It is true that you did not commit the worst of the violence towards the victim whose house you visited but you were the one who punched the police officer and drove away, causing him harm.”
Judge Barrett sentenced Wimshurst-Quin to five years and eight months imprisonment with a four year and six month non-parole period.
It was backdated to start on February 15 when the defendant was taken into custody.
