A Brisbane man has been sentenced to four years in prison for kidnapping a driving instructor at knifepoint as part of a plan to abduct his ex-girlfriend.
Abdel-Aziz Hussein Ali pleaded guilty to deprivation of liberty, assault occasioning bodily harm, assault, and kidnapping in the Brisbane District Court.
In sentencing remarks, Justice Terry Gardiner said on April 16, 2022, Ali's ex-partner had a driving lesson scheduled, but Ali obtained the phone and contacted the instructor to change the time and pick up location using a false name.
When the instructor arrived, Ali told him he had been betrayed by his ex and she had stolen money from him.
His plan, he told the instructor, was to hide in the boot of the car while the instructor drove to the ex's house and picked her up.
The instructor would then drive to a petrol station, leave the vehicle with the doors locked, allowing Ali to jump out of the boot and wrap her limbs and face with masking tape.
Ali showed the instructor a 20-centimetre knife, the tape and some gold bullets.
The instructor asked for the knife and Ali handed it over but told him to drive or he would shoot him.
When he asked what he had, Ali said: "I've got something, you'll be six foot under if you don't help me."
The instructor drove to the Inala Civic Centre where he parked, telling Ali he needed to go to the bathroom.
He fled and contacted his family, who contacted police, and Ali was arrested a short time later.
Ali had abducted ex months earlier
In the months prior to that incident, Justice Gardiner noted Ali had assaulted and abducted his ex-partner for almost three weeks.
In early April, 2022, Ali picked up her for lunch, in her car, remarking during the journey it was not driveable and they should use his brother's car.
When they got back to his house, Ali's ex-girlfriend realised there was not another car, and halfway through a scream for help Ali covered her mouth and forced her inside.
Ali punched and elbowed her repeatedly, splitting her forehead, and raining blows on her arms and body.
He forced her into the shower, continuing to hit her, hosing her down with water, before head locking her and threatening to knock her teeth out.
A short time later, he began crying, and phoned his mother, saying: "What have I done, what have I done?"
His mother came over, apologising to Ali's ex and treating her injuries.
Ali refused to let the woman leave for the next 19 days, locking doors and windows when he left the house, and refusing paramedics access to the home.
The 25-year-old said his ex could leave, but when she said she wanted to and tried to call her mother, he said he would "snap her neck when she gets here".
The woman managed to escape when Ali left the house in an Uber.
Eligible for parole immediately
Ali has already served 405 days in prison, which was factored into his sentence.
Justice Gardiner granted him eligibility for parole immediately, with the 25-year-old detained pending an application to the parole board as to whether and when he should be released.
The judge took into account his guilty plea and his role as primary carer for his unwell mother.
His defence noted Ali's behaviour, like handing the driving instructor the knife, was unusual and erratic, and pointed to his frequent use of methamphetamines at the time as part of the reason for the offending.
