Arabic version: سجن سائق بسبب اصطدامه بخيمة في مخيم بتسمانيا

According to ABC News, Stephen James Gatenby has been jailed after drunkenly driving into a family’s tent at the Kentish campground at Lake Barrington in north-west Tasmania in the early hours of New Year’s Day 2022. A 10-year-old boy was seriously injured.

Gatenby, 32, was found guilty by a Supreme Court jury in Burnie in June of dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm. Justice Tamara Jago sentenced him to two years and six months in prison, suspending the final nine months for two years. He will be eligible for parole after serving half of the remaining 21 months.

The court heard Gatenby had been drinking at the campground on December 31, 2021, while celebrating New Year’s Eve with his brother and friends. Justice Jago said he was “very drunk and aggressive”. Onlookers yelled, “Get the keys, don’t let him drive”, but Gatenby drove into the tent before continuing about 100 metres and crashing into a tree.

The boy suffered ankle and pelvic fractures, internal bleeding and a burn to his leg. He spent three weeks in hospital and underwent multiple surgeries. Justice Jago said he later experienced anxiety and flashbacks, apprehension around vehicles and permanent scarring. His sister and mother suffered minor injuries, while the family no longer takes camping trips that had been an important family tradition.

Gatenby recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.218 after his arrest. Justice Jago said it was “extremely fortunate” nobody was killed. She accepted he did not intend to hurt anyone and felt terrible about the consequences, but said he had shown selfishness by attempting to shift blame during his evidence.