A Queensland man who narrowly avoided killing a police officer after deliberately running him over with a stolen car has been jailed for four-and-a-half years.
Connor Pierce Hennedy Harris, 27, faced Brisbane District Court via video-link on Thursday after pleading guilty to six charges including dangerous operation of a vehicle and unlawful use of a motor vehicle with intent to commit an indictable offence.
Crown prosecutor Zachary Kaplan said it was "pure luck" that the male senior constable and other officers were not killed when Harris drove towards police at a service station in Banyo in Brisbane's north on August 21, 2021.
"When confronted by police, he used his car as a weapon and in order to get away he drove directly at a police officer and caused him to be pushed into a glass partition, which shattered," Mr Kaplan said.
"(The officer) was able to see the look in (Harris's) eyes when he took this malicious action."
Harris, from Scarborough on the coast north of Brisbane, had earlier stolen a vehicle during a home break-in and had been driving on the Gateway Motorway at 60km/h above the speed limit and swerving between lanes.
When Harris stopped at the service station so his female passenger could get food, he was spotted by police.
Harris reversed into a police van and his open passenger door struck a female police officer in the knee, causing slight injuries, before turning in the direction of the male officer and driving over a footpath to hit him with the car, causing bruising and pain.
Harris then drove the wrong way up a motorway off-ramp and was tracked by a police helicopter speeding at 200km/h before his arrest later that day.
Harris's barrister said his client had been addicted to methamphetamine since the age of 16 and had "humble plans" to stay out of trouble and to get a job when released.
"If he could take back the events of August 21, 2021 he would but he cannot," the barrister said.
Judge Michael Byrne said Harris had a long history with property crime and his latest offences were committed while on a suspended sentence and parole.
"You are very fortunate that the officer suffered light injuries, otherwise you would be looking at a much more substantial sentence," Judge Byrne said.
Judge Byrne said Harris was perhaps remorseful and had "undoubtedly a large dose of regret".
"There was no doubt some aspect of panic and certainly not clear thinking as (police) tried to get you out of the car," Judge Byrne said.
Harris will be eligible for parole in April due to time already served and was also disqualified from driving for three years.
