MAYOR’S WIFE IN CAR CHASE

VICTIM ‘ FEARED FOR HIS LIFE’ AS LACEY SPUN HER WHEELS

“BAD blood” caused the Palm Island Mayor’s wife to chase down a man and run over his back pack.

Melissa Jane Lacey, the wife of Alf Lacey, “lost her patience and perspective” at the Palm Island ferry terminal when she spun the tyres of her vehicle and drove toward Thomas Barry at speed.

She was sentenced to a 12- month probation period as well as being disqualified from driving for nine months for dangerous operation of a vehicle and wilful damage. Lacey was also ordered to pay $ 300 in restitution for running over Mr Barry’s backpack and “effectively” destroying a Novo computer tablet.

“The manner of the defendant’s driving caused the victim to fear for his life, because he believed that the defendant was attempting to run over him,” police prosecutor Darryn Casson said.

THE wife of Palm Island’s mayor has been placed on probation after she used a car to chase a man and run over his belongings.

Melissa Jane Lacey, the wife of Palm Island mayor, Alf Lacey, was sentenced in Townsville Magistrates Court for dangerous operation of a vehicle and wilful damage.

The court heard that on June 29, 2017, Lacey, 43, had exchanged words with the victim, Thomas Barry, at the Palm Island ferry terminal, with Mr Barry then walking towards the police station to report the matter.

Police prosecutor Darryn Casson said the victim heard a car door slam and a vehicle coming from behind and saw Lacey driving towards him across the park.

Mr Casson said CCTV footage showed Mr Barry sprinting away as Lacey spun the tyres of her vehicle and chased him at speed.

“The manner of the defendant’s driving caused the victim to fear for his life, because he believed that the defendant was attempting to run over him,” he said. “The victim has proceeded to sprint towards the police station for safety while the defendant has chased the victim in her vehicle across the park.

“The victim dropped his backpack near a tree as he sprinted away, and the defendant has done a U- turn and run over the victim’s backpack, which effectively destroyed a Novo computer tablet.”

Mr Casson said there were a group of people in the park at the time and the “potential for danger was quite high”.

Defence barrister Scott Geeves told the court that Lacey was a mother of nine and ran the post office on Palm Island.

Mr Geeves said there was some “bad blood” between Lacey and Mr Barry dating back to a break- in at the post office in 2016, during which he had an iPad stolen.

“He was directed to contact Australia Post and file an official process to effectively claim for the lost property,” he said.

“He didn’t do so and effectively blamed Ms Lacey for the break- in, the theft of the iPad, and there ensued some vitriolic communication between the two.”

Lacey was sentenced to a 12 month probation period for both offences, with no conviction recorded.

She has been disqualified from driving for nine months and ordered to pay $ 300 in restitution for the wilful damage charge.