Craigmore man Joel Tyson Cook-Forrest avoids jail for high speed ‘test ride’ on motorcycle

A man filmed riding a motorbike with fake plates at more than 180km/h up Main North Road by a police helicopter was going for a “test” drive, a court has heard.

A Craigmore man convicted of riding a motorbike with fake plates at more than 180km/h on Main North Road was “test riding the bike”, a court has heard.

Joel Tyson Cook-Forrest, 33, was filmed by a police helicopter on January 23 weaving in and out of traffic and running two red lights.

He eventually stopped at a house in Salisbury East where he was charged by police.

Cook-Forrest appeared at the Elizabeth Magistrates Court on Tuesday and pleaded guilty to failing to hold a licence, driving an unregistered, uninsured vehicle, driving with an imitation number plate and driving at dangerous speed.

He also pleaded guilty to a trespassing charge from December 22, 2019, and a basic theft charge from September 12, 2020.

Magistrate Karim Soetratma sentenced Cook-Forrest to a suspended seven-week prison sentence for driving at a dangerous speed, but on all other charges he received a conviction without penalty.

Joel Tyson Cook-Forrest leaves the Elizabeth Magistrates Court. Picture: Jason Katsaras

Cook-Forrest’s lawyer Russell Cole said his client had a pregnant partner and was endeavouring to change his life for the better.

“To use his words Your Honour, he was riding like an absolute ‘DH’, there’s been no trouble since,” Mr Cole said.

“He’s hoping to get some form of employment to maintain his relationship and provide for his child due to be born in four months.”

Mr Cole also told Magistrate Soetratma that Cook-Forrest’s father died from a road accident when his client was aged nine and he had struggled with addiction until recently, kicking both alcohol and methamphetamines.

“Without being authorised to ride a motorcycle, you were riding a motorcycle which was unregistered uninsured with false plates, at 180km/h,” Magistrate Soetratma said.

“You are so lucky that you are not here being charged with death by dangerous driving because at 180km/h that’s just a matter of luck.”

Magistrate Soetratma said Cook-Forrest ought to know the damage that can be caused on the road given he had lost his father in a road accident.

“At 180km/h the danger that you pose to everybody else on the road is immense,” she said.

“You might think you’re really good at riding at 180 km/h – I just think you’re a danger to the public.

“A factor that has come into play since the offence is that your partner is now pregnant and I’m told you’re now abstinent from meth, I hope that with a kid maybe you’ll see life differently.”

Cook-Forrest received a suspended seven-week jail sentence and was placed on a $500 good-behaviour bond for 18 months.

He was disqualified from driving for two years and ordered to pay $150 in prosecution costs and the victims of crime levy.

Court and impound fees were waived.