A man who injured two women after reversing his car into them after a fight outside a Western Australian pub has been sentenced to five years in jail.
Benjamin Lawrence Byrne-Quinn, who pleaded guilty to two counts of intentionally doing someone harm and endangering life, reversed his large work ute into the women outside the Crown Hotel, Collie, in October 2020.
Georgia Moloney, 23, was pinned to the wall and spent six months in hospital. Alexis Tate, 18, was also injured.
The Bunbury District Court was told on Monday the pair were innocent bystanders in a fight involving an alcohol and drug-affected Byrne-Quinn and another pub-goer.
Ms Moloney gave an emotional victim impact statement, saying she had endured 16 operations, on her back, pelvis and leg, as well as internal injuries.
"I should not have survived."
Defence lawyer Karrie Louden said there was no intent to cause grievous bodily harm but accepted there had been an intent to cause harm in a split-second decision.
She said he was deeply remorseful, with Byrne-Quinn sobbing as Ms Moloney read her victim impact statement.
'You destroyed her world'
Judge Christian Miocevich ordered Byrne-Quinn to a total of five years in jail over the incident.
Judge Miocevich said he accepted Byrne-Quinn had been a victim of an assault that night following a fight with another man outside the pub and was trying to drive away.
But the judge said when that man punched Byrne-Quinn's car, vision showed him reversing quickly into people, showing an intent to harm.
"I accept it was not premeditated and it was a split-second decision," he said.
But Judge Miocevich said he could not ignore the extent of the life injuries to Ms Moloney which resulted from the incident.
Ms Tate also received serious abrasions.
"From her statement, she suffered bruising and major anxiety and may still need to have surgery to her hip," he said.
Judge Miocevich said the women were innocent bystanders.
He noted Byrne-Quinn, who has two young children, had a history of alcohol abuse but had since stopped drinking and taking drugs as he underwent counselling and psychiatric treatment.
"I accept you're genuinely remorseful, and you've made every possible change you can to your life," Judge Miocevich said.
"This is a tragic case, and there are no winners.
"Because of your terrible judgement to reverse your car after someone thumped your vehicle, you ruined your life and that of Ms Moloney's."
Byrne-Quinn will be eligible for parole in 2025.
