Bunbury support worker could change plea on careless driving charge and encouraged to speak with lawyers

A 21-year-old support worker will have to wait to the new year to learn his fate on a charge of careless driving causing bodily harm after an accident in Carey Park while a client was in the car. Jagger Stone Taylor appeared in Bunbury Magistrates Court on Thursday for sentencing on the matter, after previously being convicted of the charge in his absence, when he failed to appear to court in October. On May 12, the court heard Taylor was approaching the intersection of Barr and Brittain roads in Carey Park when he attempted to turn left on to Brittain Road, not seeing a red Hyundai, and colliding with the vehicle — unable to break in time. The court was told the driver of the Hyundai suffered “immediate chest pain” and was taken to Bunbury Region Hospital in an ambulance. It was later revealed the victim had suffered a displaced fracture to her sternum, as well as bruising to her chest area. Taylor represented himself at the bar table, attempting to explain what had happened during the incident. He claimed the prosecution’s facts were wrong about the location of the accident, as well as the point of collision between the two cars. During this time it was also revealed Taylor had a client with him in the car at the time of the incident — though they were reportedly uninjured in the crash. Magistrate Linda Keane adjourned the matter until January 9, 2023, on the basis Taylor had outlined a potential defence. She encouraged the man to speak with a lawyer, suggesting he may wish to make an application to set aside the convicted guilty plea.