Antoni Jason Nduwimana, blames cousin for driving offences as he faces court

A convicted sex offender and tradie facing punishment for multiple driving offences told police his “cousin” was to blame.

A convicted child-sex offender drove while drunk and disqualified – once blaming his “cousin” – was dobbed in by his employees, court documents reveal.

On Tuesday, Antoni Jason Nduwimana, 28, appeared in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court as his lawyer, Courtney Traeger, told the court her client had rehabilitated since his offending last year.

Antoni Jason Nduwimana, 28, is set to be sentenced for a large number of driving offences and other charges in court. Picture: Facebook

The court heard Nduwimana is a co-owner of CWN Construction and works as a carpenter. Picture: Facebook

“He has shown, in my respectful submission, rehabilitation in terms of addressing his criminogenic needs and criminogenic factors,” Ms Traeger said.

“ … He has come a very long way and he can demonstrate to the court that he can move forward in a way where he may not be seen by these courts again.”

The court heard Nduwimana, of Enfield, is joint-owner of carpentry business CWN Construction and an “indispensable” part of the team.

Nduwimana, a father of two, has pleaded guilty to a range of offences including driving without due care, 26 counts of breaching bail, five counts of driving while disqualified and three counts of drink driving – one with a child under 16 in the car and one count of failing to give particulars of a crash to a police officer.

Court documents outline the offences committed on various dates between November 2019 and May 2024.

They say police observed Nduwimana performing a U-turn to avoid patrols on Commercial Rd, Salisbury North on May 8, 2024.

Officers found the car parked outside a home on an adjacent street, with the 28-year-old in the passenger seat.

The court heard Nduwimana had attempted to lie to police on one occasion, blaming a “cousin” for driving while he was disqualified. Picture: Facebook

Nduwimana had the keys, but claimed a cousin had been driving, who was “in the house opposite to get a shower”.

The documents said the owners of the home did not know Nduwimana, and their CCTV cameras did not pick up anyone leaving the vehicle after it had pulled up.

On December 1, 2023, an employee of CWN Construction told police his boss, Nduwimana, had been behind the wheel at the time a Great Wall utility crashed into a parked sedan near a job site in West Lakes.

Nduwimana was previously convicted of child sex offences in 2018 that had a lasting impact on his victim, Tara Dawes.

Tara Dawes was abused by Antoni Nduwimana from the age of 13 – even while pregnant with their child. Picture: RoyVPhotography

His two-year jail term was suspended for a two-year good behaviour bond, to which he admitted breaching.

In court on Tuesday, Ms Traeger told Magistrate Lana Chester her client had been diagnosed with anxiety, depression, alcohol abuse disorder and adjustment disorder – but was now sober.

Ms Chester remanded Nduwimana on continuing bail to face sentencing next week.