A man who ran over a scrap metal yard employee in 2021 has avoided a jail term, but his disappointed victim says his attacker “shouldn’t be on the streets”.
Shane Anthony Matherson, 52, was sentenced in South Australia’s District Court on Monday after hitting Craig Hatchard with his car at the front of a scrap metal yard at Thebarton, in Adelaide’s inner west, on March 6, 2021.
In sentencing, Judge Geraldine Davison said the “mayhem” began when Matherson parked across the exit of the Denron Metals site and stopped customers from leaving despite him being told to move.
She said Mr Hatchard went to the front of Matherson’s car and struck the windscreen, causing it to crack.
“You then tried to move your van and in doing so [the victim] was trapped between your car and a ute that was in front,” she told Matherson.
“Other people came out and your car was surrounded. There was much screaming and shouting. One of the Denron customers went to his car and got an axe and brought it out.”
She said Matherson then drove his car to the end of the dead-end street, before turning around.
“You then drove back. As you came back, there were a number of people milling around. One of the workers threw a coke can, which went through your window and hit you. Another person had a machete and swung it at your car,” she said.
“It was in this environment you made your decision to run over the victim, who was lying in the middle of the road in his high-visibility jacket.”
Judge Davison said CCTV footage of the incident showed Matherson deliberately running over Mr Hatchard.
“You ran over his shoulder with your car. Fortunately, for both you and he, he was not seriously injured,” she said.
“You drove off without stopping.
“To describe the situation at the end of Murray Street at that particular time as mayhem would not be an exaggeration.
“It was clear that you swerved towards the victim as he lay on the ground.”
Judge Davison said Mr Hatchard had become “moody and withdrawn” since the incident and he still experienced pain.
Outside court, Mr Hatchard said Matherson should have been jailed for his crime and “shouldn’t be on the streets”.
“I had to suffer from the injuries and that. Why can’t he?” he said.
“I have nightmares over it.”
Mr Hatchard said he had no memory of the incident, during which his shoulder, ribs and legs were injured.
“I don’t remember it. It just happened so quick,” he said.
“When I hit the ground, I was in a daze.”
After a trial by judge alone, Matherson was found guilty of one count of endangering life over the incident.
Judge Davison sentenced Matherson to three years and one month imprisonment, but suspended the jail term due to his deteriorating health following a cancer diagnosis.
She instead imposed a three-year good behaviour bond and banned him from driving for five years.