NSW: Jail term doubled for driver who ran down people

AAP General News (Australia)
04-15-2010
NSW: Jail term doubled for driver who ran down people

A drunk driver .. who injured seven bystanders after deliberately driving his car into
them .. has had his jail term more than doubled on appeal.

36-year-old SIMON JOHN HUNTER was originally jailed for two years and three months
.. with a non-parole period of 18 months.

But the New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal has increased his term to four years
and eight months .. with a minimum term of three-and-a-half years.

In March 2008 .. HUNTER drove his rented car into a group of people outside the Terrigal
Bakery on the Central Coast .. believing they'd been responsible for assaulting his friend.

HUNTER recorded a blood-alcohol reading of 0.195 .. almost four times the legal limit.

In allowing the crown appeal .. the court today said the sentencing judge had seemed
to pay scant regard to the seriousness of the victims' injuries.

AAP RTV mss/wjf/ajw/

KEYWORD: HUNTER (SYDNEY)

2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.