A man tried to steal a car in broad daylight by pushing it backwards out a car park, smashed it into a tree and then tried to bite a leisure centre worker.
Dwayne John James Goward, 34, has pleaded guilty in the ACT Magistrates Court to several charges including theft, driving a motor vehicle without consent and damaging property.
Court documents said in December last year, Goward walked into the Lakeside Leisure Centre sauna in Greenway while wearing a white Tommy Hilfiger cap and Tommy Hilfiger branded bumbag.
He stole a Nike backpack containing a set of Mitsubishi car keys and a lavender coloured shirt.
Walking into the carpark with the bag, Goward first entered a white Prado before "trying to push a grey Mitsubishi Triton" backwards out of its parking spot.
Realising a leisure centre worker was watching him, Goward then got into the driver's seat, "became aggressive and frantic and locked all the doors and started the ignition".
"At this time, [the employee] realised [Goward] was trying to steal a car," court documents said.
Goward then suddenly accelerated forward, mounting a garden bed, hitting a nearby tree and causing the front side of the Mitsubishi to collide with another vehicle.
Goward tried to leave the Mitsubishi through the front passenger door as the Lakeside employee stood outside the front driver's seat.
As Goward tried to push past a bystander while exiting from the passenger side, the Lakeside employee "tackled [him] to the ground".
Goward "fought" against the man, gouging his eye, scratching his face and attempting to bite him.
The worker and members of the public kept Goward held to the ground until police arrived.
Police officers said Goward appeared "to be not cognisant, almost unresponsive" and called an ambulance.
Goward was taken to The Canberra Hospital before being released into police custody.
Several CCTV cameras captured the incident.
During a sentencing hearing on Wednesday, the court heard details of the 34-year-old's disadvantaged childhood.
Raised by his dad, Goward left school at 13 years old, started to use illicit substances at age 14 and eventually became a heroin addict.
Goward cried when Legal Aid defence lawyer Edward Chen asked about the death of one of his children.
He also claimed he was deeply affected when his father was "tortured" during a home invasion.
Prosecutor Hannah Lee described the attempted theft as premeditated, brazen and conducted in broad daylight.
Special magistrate Margaret Hunter said there was a "glimmer of hope" that Goward could turn his life around and is considering giving him an intensive correction order.
The sentencing hearing has been adjourned to May.
