Man jailed for stealing car with woman and child inside from Broome fuel station

Australia Broadcast Center

05-05-2025

A West Australian man who stole a car with a woman and child inside from a Broome fuel station because he thought he was under "spiritual attack" has been sentenced to two-and-a-half years' jail.
Troy Dean Allan Carter, 34, appeared in the Broome District Court on Monday and pleaded guilty to two counts of deprivation of liberty and stealing a motor vehicle.
The court heard Carter stole the car with a woman and six-year-old child inside about 7.10pm on March 16, 2024, before abandoning it about 5 kilometres away on Djiagween Road.
The 34-year-old was with his pregnant partner when he experienced significant stomach pain, which he described as a "spiritual attack".
After attempting to call for help at a payphone, Carter spotted a vehicle parked at a fuel station bowser with no driver inside.
The 28-year-old woman driving the vehicle had gone inside the shop, while her sister-in-law and six-year-old son were inside.
Carter entered the vehicle, told the woman he needed the car and had pain that felt like a "fishbone in his guts".
Carter drove the car to Djiagween Road, where he was later arrested.
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ABC Kimberley: Gareth McKnight
)
The court heard he drove the car to Djiagween Road and told the woman to keep the headlights on before leaving.
The woman drove away, and Carter was arrested later that night.
'Somewhat bizarre' offending
While acknowledging Carter's beliefs and the opportunistic nature of the offence, Judge Seamus Rafferty said Carter had placed his needs above those of the woman and child.
"It would have been extremely frightening … five to 10 minutes would have felt like eternity," he said.
Prosecutor Cameron Henderson said imprisonment was appropriate, citing the impact on the victims and the need to deter car theft.
Defence lawyer Rachel Rima said Carter's offending was bizarre and out of character for him, detailing he had no physical or mental health issues.
Ms Rima told the court her client believed he had been cursed by a former partner and in his mind was "on the verge of dying", requiring the help of a family member on Djiagween Road.
She said the offending was not premeditated and Carter had no intention to detain the woman and child, who he did not know and left physically unharmed.
The court heard Carter was remorseful and appreciated the incident frightened the car's occupants.
Carter was sentenced in the Broome District Court on Monday.
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ABC Kimberley
)
Judge Rafferty said the incident was serious and described the offending as "somewhat bizarre", though said it could be influenced by the context of traditional Aboriginal practices.
"They [the car occupants] had no idea who you were; you were a strange man who was in an agitated state," he said.
"
They didn't know whether you intended to cause them harm.
"
The court heard Carter had become a peer support officer while at Casuarina Prison, which Judge Rafferty acknowledged.
"[I am] heartened by the fact you've used your time in custody to help others," he said.
"You are a person who is capable of doing much good."
Judge Rafferty determined a total sentence of two years and six months' jail was appropriate, to be backdated to March 2024 to reflect time spent in custody.
Carter will be eligible for parole on June 15.
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