Drug-addled carjacker to do jail time

A MAN repeatedly said “they’re going to f--king kill me” as he carjacked a woman and four children while in a drug-induced psychosis.

Zane Jet Shelton filled up his green Ford ute at a Hermit Park service station with almost $100 worth of fuel before driving off without paying.

An hour later, a woman was pulling into the driveway of her Cranbrook home when Shelton arrived and demanded she get out of the car.

He pulled on the car’s door handle, repeatedly saying “they’re going to f--king kill me”.

There were four children in the car, three the children of the woman driving.

The woman told the children to get out of the car and call police.

Shelton overpowered the woman, who was trying to keep the door closed, and pushed his way into the driver’s seat.

While he backed out of the driveway, he began to push her out of the car.

She fell on to the road and Shelton sped off.

Police later recovered the

Black River Road.

Townsville District Court heard the woman and children were traumatised by the event.

Documents tendered to the court said Shelton was likely suffering from a druginduced psychosis at the time.

He pleaded guilty to multiple offences, including stealing, robbery with violence and assault occasioning bodily harm.

Judge Gregory Lynham said the day after the incident, Shelton phoned police to confess and hand himself in.

Judge Lynham said the woman did not have any lasting physical injuries but the incident would have been traumatising.

“Your offending can only be described as very serious. This can only be a traumatic experience for both the complainant and (the) children … they have a person who is clearly acting in a very bizarre, erratic and violent way in front of the complainant, who simply drove into her yard with the children,” he said.

Shelton, a New Zealand citizen, was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, to serve 342 days. vehicle in

them. It won’t be tolerated.”

The detention centre can enforce internal discipline, but the matter cannot be heightened without police interference.

Senior Sergeant Miles said recent reports of staff suffering broken bones from violent detainees was a serious example of the issue.

“Broken bones (means) a significant assault and not something we would ordinarily see inside the centre,” he said. “We see serious assaults, which include striking, kicking, spitting … we see resistance to the movement of individuals in the centre, but it would not be common to be seeing fairly significant injuries arising all the time.”

“There’s just no consequence, the kids run the prison,” they said.

Despite the number of assaults, the department spokeswoman said the return rate by workers was high.

“The final return to work rate for the Department of Youth Justice in 2018-2019, following a Workcover claim, was 99.25 per cent,” she said.

“Youth detention centres

are complex and difficult working environments, however the work can be very rewarding. Over 40 per cent of youth detention staff have over five years of service and 15 per cent over 15 years service.”

The Bulletin last week reported two officers were seriously injured by a 16-year-old with another having their arm broken by a 17-year-old boy bashing them with a phone.