Dangerous South East drivers who fronted court in 2022 so far

From dads behind the wheel drunk with their kids in the car to teen hoons ripping burnouts and breaking the speed limit, see the list of risky regional drivers.

Getting behind the wheel is risky business and police have spent years cautioning the public about the dangers of driving.

From fathers who got behind the wheel drunk with their kids in the car to teen hoons who ripped burnouts and blasted the speed limit, these are the South East’s dodgy drivers who were busted flouting the rules in 2022.

DRIVERS WHO RECEIVED A CONVICTION

Jamie Clinton Harris

While his wife was at work at a local hospital, a father-of-two who could not find someone to look after his kids got behind the wheel while heavily intoxicated.

Jamie Clinton Harris, 37, was three times over the limit and looking after his two young children, aged four and seven, when he decided to strap them into his car in an effort to get more booze.

Jamie Clinton Harris pleaded guilty to high range drink driving while his four and seven-year-old children were in the car. Picture: Arj Ganesan

The Mount Gambier Magistrates Court heard the accused took his children with him as they were too young to be left home alone.

Following a roadside breath test he blew a reading of 0.17 when he was pulled over by police on July 3, 2021 — he was issued with an on-the-spot 12-month loss of licence.

Harris pleaded guilty to one count of driving with prescribed alcohol with a child under 16.

Magistrate Koula Kossiavelos said it was concerning the defendant had got behind the wheel while heavily intoxicated.

“You were in the highest category for drink driving — at the same time you had two children present in the vehicle,” Ms Kossiavelos said.

Harris was fined $1100 and received a 12-month licence disqualification, backdated to July 3, 2021.

Aaron Peter Scott Versteegh

Despite a ‘shocking history’ and more than ten driving offences, a Mount Gambier Magistrate allowed a dodgy driver to be released from prison and given another chance.

Aaron Peter Scott Versteegh, 39, was found driving while disqualified with both methamphetamine and THC in his system on July 20, 2020.

It was the eighth time he had been caught driving while disqualified and the fourth time the accused had been caught drug-driving.

Fronting the Mount Gambier Magistrate Court by video link, Versteegh had his head bowed as police prosecutor Sergeant Stephen Angove argued for his imprisonment.

“Even though he has spent some four months in custody, a further term is required,” Sgt Angove said.

Sgt Angove said there needed to be a deterrent for both drug-driving and driving while disqualified.

The Mount Gambier man pleaded guilty to one count of driving under disqualification, one count of driving a vehicle with a combination of drugs in fluid or blood and one count of failing to comply with bail.

Magistrate Koula Kossiavelos said she had concerns about his “shocking history” of offending and his attitude towards diversion programs.

Despite her concerns Ms Kossiavelos said she “believed in people”, handing down a partially-suspended sentence.

For driving while disqualified Versteegh was handed a further two-year disqualification on top of his already disqualified licence and was handed a $1500 fine.

Versteegh was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, reduced by four months for time served and the remaining two months were suspended.

Heath Marshall

A father who got behind the wheel after downing a bottle of red wine in the morning before strapping his toddler into the car and ploughing through a wooden bollard was slammed in court.

Heath Marshall, 35, was nearly seven times over the legal limit when he got behind the wheel with his child in the back seat.

While, his three-year-old toddler slept, Marshall drunkenly reversed through a wooden bollard at Sealy Reserve, Mount Gambier.

A police prosecutor told the court the Mount Gambier man made several attempts at reversing before he broke through the wooden barrier and was stranded on the grass.

“He had drank a bottle of red wine during the day — his first drink was that morning,” she said.

CCTV of the incident showed Marshall arrived at Sealy Reserve cameras around 3.45pm on April 16, 2022 — crashing about 4.30pm when attempting to leave.

Magistrate Koula Kossiavelos was “astounded” Marshall got behind the wheel with his child on board with a blood-alcohol content of 0.342.

Marshall pleaded guilty to one count of driving with prescribed alcohol with a child under 16 present.

Marshall was handed the maximum fine of $1600 as well as a 12-month loss of licence backdated to April 19.

A conviction was recorded.

Dylan John Nuske

An L-plater who was spotted driving without a qualified supervisor, made a desperate bid to flee police while travelling to hospital to see his newborn baby.

Dylan John Nuske, 20, spun his tyres at a roundabout and crossed onto the wrong side of the road while travelling roughly 40km/h over the speed limit.

A police prosecutor told the court police had attempted to pull over the slightly-damaged Ford on Wireless Rd East for a routine traffic stop at 5.50pm on April 2.

Dylan John Nuske risked his life when he ran from a police while trying to see his newborn child. Picture: Arj Ganesan

“The defendant accelerated away from police, breaking traction on the roundabout and continuing northbound (onto Kennedy Ave),” a police prosecutor said.

“The defendant then crossed the dividing line onto the wrong side of the road to overtake other northbound vehicles.”

Nuske reached speeds of roughly 120km/h while pulling back onto the correct side of the road just before a blind crest.

Nuske pleaded guilty at the Mount Gambier Magistrate Court for failing to stop vehicle, driving at dangerous speed, driving with no L-plates on a vehicle and contravening condition of learner’s permit.

Magistrate Koula Kossiavelos blasted the accused for his reckless actions — which could have left his child without a father.

“Do you understand that you could have killed yourself?” Ms Kossiavelos said.

“You may not have made it to see your newborn child — and the worst thing is that you could have killed someone else as well.”

The Mount Gambier man was fined $360 and handed a two-year good behaviour bond, with a conviction recorded and he lost his licence for a year.

DRIVERS WHO DID NOT RECEIVE A CONVICTION

Kaylee Ann Howard

A South East teen busted for hoon driving, repeatedly spinning her tyres on a quiet cul-de-sac, blamed her car’s powerful engine and faulty brakes.

A resident on a quiet Mount Gambier street called police in June last year, after spotting Kaylee Ann Howard, 19, spinning her tyres on Tallarook Court twice in just over the space of a week.

Kaylee Ann Howard, 19, pleaded guilty to two counts of misuse motor vehicle. Picture: Facebook

Howard’s defence lawyer Katherine Davies said there was a fault in the car’s ABS brakes and the 19-year-old was unable “to appropriately control the car.”

“She has since gotten rid of that car,” Ms Davies said.

ABS brakes are designed to prevent tyres from locking up when they are applied too suddenly, such as panic braking during an emergency.

Howard pleaded guilty to two counts of misuse motor vehicle — sustained wheel spin which occurred on June 22 and June 30, 2021.

Magistrate Paul Foley described Howard’s action as a “nuisance” to the community and drove residents “crazy”.

“The potential damage to the road surface — creates a nuisance in the streets,” Mr Foley said.

No conviction was recorded. However, Howard was ordered to serve 40 hours of community service.

Caleb Horand

A Mount Gambier teen who sped after another car for no reason, while travelling 106km/h in a 60km/h zone, has avoided a conviction.

Caleb Horand, 18, pleaded guilty to driving at a dangerous speed in Mount Gambier Magistrates Court

Police prosecution dropped the more serious charge of street racing.

Caleb Horand could not explain why he was travelling 40km/h over the speed limit. Picture: Facebook

The court heard Horand was travelling along the Jubilee Hwy East about 7pm when another car overtook him which was allegedly speeding.

Horand told officers he was “out for a bit of fun” and had no intention of “causing anyone any harm” when police spotted him pursuing a car travelling at 106km/h.

“The defendant‘s vehicle was at a comparative speed,” a police prosecutor said.

Magistrate Koula Kossiavelos warned the accused the charges could have resulted in serious consequences.

“Accidents do happen when we drive in a dangerous manner,” Ms Kossiavelos said.

Horand had his licence disqualified for 12 months and received a $200 good behaviour bond.

Ms Kossiavelos did not record a conviction as she did not want to “impede (his) prospects”.