Shane Lovett, 48, of Thompson Street, pleaded guilty in Warrnambool Magistrates Court to reckless conduct endangering serious injury and other criminal charges. He was sentenced to eight months’ jail with 58 days counted as time served.

He was also placed on a 12-month community corrections order with conditions he do 150 hours’ unpaid community work as well as drug and offending behaviour programs. 

On September 21 Lovett was at his home with his former partner and three young children when he began yelling and screaming. 

He jumped in a car and drove towards the victim and her two children, aged seven and nine, causing them to quickly jump away.

Lovett’s three-year-old child was a passenger in the vehicle at the time.

He then continued to drive at a fast speed before colliding with the victim's Toyota Corolla, causing extensive damage.

Lovett was arrested and bailed with conditions he not contact his former partner or go within 25 kilometres of her address.

But that bail was revoked after he sent 17 messages to the victim demanding she give their vehicle back. He threatened self-harm and told the victim he would send another man to her address to retrieve the car.

In a victim impact statement, the woman said the incidents were traumatic, stressful and detrimental to all involved. 

“Put simply, I am broken,” she said. 

“This changed who I was, who I am and who I am yet to be.” 

Lawyer Xavier Farrelly said Lovett’s mental health had deteriorated after he stopped taking the opioid replacement Suboxone. 

He said Lovett started using ice as a replacement drug and things spiralled out of control.