Peter Last sentenced on reckless conduct, assault charges

A tradie told police he “just wanted to talk” to a man he threatened with an iron bar and drove onto the wrong side of the road to confront.

Peter Last leaving Geelong Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.

A tradie who drove onto the wrong side of the road to confront a man allegedly harassing his ex-partner has escaped a conviction.

Peter Last, 58, appeared in Geelong Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, having pleaded guilty to reckless conduct endangering serious injury and unlawful assault.

According to a police summary released by the court, Last and the victim were acquaintances who shared a mutual friend – Last’s ex-partner.

Last was at his ex-partner’s house on February 13 when the victim pulled up in his car.

Enraged, Last approached the car, yelling and screaming at the man, before going back to his own car and grabbing an iron bar.

Fearful, the victim fled, court documents state.

Later that day, Last was driving along Tower St in Portarlington at about 2.15pm.

He was about to turn into Geelong-Portarlington Rd when he saw the victim driving along that road.

Last drove into the intersection and into oncoming traffic, hitting the victim’s car and causing a “moderate” amount of damage.

Both vehicles had to be towed from the scene.

The victim received minor injuries to his left hand and left knee, but refused medical treatment.

Last was taken to Geelong police station, where he made substantial admissions to police about what happened during the police interview.

“I don’t know what I wanted to do, whether I want to talk to him,” he said to police.

He told police he drove on the wrong side of the road “just to stop him and talk to him” and, at another point, that: “I was virtually at a stop and he just ploughed into me”.

“Fair enough I was on the wrong side of the road, not fully, he drove straight into me, without even trying to stop,” he said.

During his interview, Last told police the victim had been “hassling” their mutual friend, trying to “break” her.

“I wanted to hurt him, just cos (sic) of what he’s doing to her,” he said, according to court documents.

Last told police he grabbed the iron bar to “poke (the victim) through the window”.

Last’s co-operation with police was highlighted by his lawyer, Tom Edwards, during his sentencing hearing.

Mr Edwards told the court Last worked as a tradie in a small crew and the loss of licence he faced would be a “significant interruption”.

Magistrate Peter Mellas had adjourned the matter a week to allow Last to make arrangements, such as accessing his superannuation to pay rent if he could not work.

The court heard Last had no criminal priors and just one traffic prior from 2019.

Mr Mellas said he had initially been prepared to fine Last, but on reflection he felt an adjourned undertaking would be appropriate.

Last told the court the whole incident “happened like that”.

Last was placed on an adjourned undertaking for 12 months without conviction, lost his licence for three months and must pay $750 to the court fund.

Originally published as Peter Last sentenced on reckless conduct, assault charges