Man who drove over sportswoman's foot in front of her daughter given five months' jail

Thor Sven Kristiansen has been sentenced to five months’ jail after driving over a friend’s foot. Photo: Michelle Kroll.

A man who drove over his long-time friend’s foot, a successful sportswoman, before driving away will face jail time over the Canberra incident.

Thor Sven Kristiansen, 32, pleaded guilty to charges of negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm as well as not stopping to give assistance. He appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court for sentencing on Monday (15 February), under guard as he was already in custody.

Magistrate James Lawton said the facts of the matter showed the incident occurred in November 2019 after Kristiansen had driven to a home in Wanniassa with a female friend and the home’s occupants had come outside.

The facts state one of the women who came outside, who had an on-and-off relationship with Kristiansen, said “there’s a f—ing woman in the car” then started to hit the car and attempted to rip its door handles off.

Kristiansen tried to reverse away but swung to the left and ran over the foot of a woman who was trying to deescalate the situation.

The facts state this victim, who has known Kristiansen for about 20 years, fell across the car and hit her head on the bonnet, before falling to the ground and blacking out for a short time. Kristiansen started to drive away but stopped to ask if the victim was okay before driving away again.

In court, Kristiansen’s lawyer argued the incident “doesn’t show the same level of disregard as a hit and run would in a typical sense”, as his client did stop and approached his victim but saw other people coming to her aid so left.

The facts state the victim’s right foot had ligaments pulled from the bones, multiple bone fractures, two broken toes, as well as a chipped bone on her left elbow. She required surgery and was told she may never regain full function of her right foot.

In a victim impact statement, the victim said her injury meant she could not participate in the sporting activities she enjoyed, and the incident had impacted her whole family.

“I was very independent, but now I have to find people to help me with everyday living. It has taken a lot away from me – I have lost the small things in life that you take for granted,” she said.

“I feel like I have lost my ability to keep my kids safe. I feel I can’t protect them physically, financially and emotionally. My daughter witnessed me getting run over – she has been in counselling for it. She locks all the doors to make the house secure – and the bathroom windows. Nothing is ever unlocked.”

Magistrate Lawton accepted the offences were in the medium range of seriousness but said the defendant’s significant criminal history and a “not particularly impressive” traffic history did not afford him any leniency.

Kristiansen was fined $2000 and sentenced to five months’ jail for the offences.

Kristiansen had also pleaded guilty to a charge of minor theft after he went into a liquor store, took a four-pack of Captain Morgan’s spiced rum and left without paying, for which he was fined $2000.