Kidnap not Hilton’s first offence
A Benneydale man struggling to come to terms with a relationship break-up, kidnapped his former partner after breaking into her mum’s home and took her on a ‘‘terrifying’’ trip.
After pulling over for police, one to two hours after the ordeal began, Jason Larry Hilton briefly broke free from police custody.
Hilton, 38, was jailed on Friday for two years and 91⁄ months for the horrifying ordeal he put his former partner through on December 19.
On the day of the kidnap, Hilton went to his former partner’s work, but was told she wasn’t there. Fearful of what Hilton might do, her boss called police, who found and confronted Hilton, telling him to leave the victim alone.
Hilton ignored this advice, instead driving to the victim’s mother’s house, where she had been staying.
The victim’s mother refused to let him in, so he forced his way in through a set of french doors while the victim hid in a bedroom.
As Hilton went to find the victim, her mother tried to stop him by getting a knife. But after a short struggle, he overpowered her and took the knife from her.
He then dragged the victim to his vehicle, driving off with the knife still in his hand.
Hilton drove around for about 30km, threatening his former partner and threatening to harm himself, before finally stopping for police.
At the police station, Hilton managed to smash his way out of a receiving cell and ran down the road. He was arrested a few minutes later.
Crown prosecutor Rebecca Guthrie said the incident was aggravated by the fact he had acted in a similar way and been convicted on similar charges – including kidnapping – with a previous partner in 2005.
Ms Guthrie said the victim was terrified that Hilton was going to drive them both off a cliff. She had also just applied for a protection order – which has since been granted – when the incident occurred.
Hilton’s counsel, Russell Boot, told Judge Denise Clark that there had not been any actual violence towards the victim, who was uninjured.
Mr Boot said Hilton had also suffered, losing his job and all his possessions, including his ute and working dogs. He was supported by members of the community, Mr Boot said.
But Ms Guthrie told Judge Clark to ignore Mr Boot’s submission of apparent sympathy and said any ‘‘suffering’’ was the result of his actions on that day.
Judge Clark said the incident had a significant impact on the victim, who was still on edge and struggled to find a sense of normality in her life.