Caleb Levi Galffy riding stolen motorbike while on drugs at time of Waterloo Corner crash, court told
A man who seriously injured his ex-partner in a crash was riding a stolen motorbike while high only because he was trying to make her happy, a court has heard.
Police & Courts
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A man who caused a crash driving a stolen motorbike, seriously injuring his ex-partner, had a number of drugs in his system, a court has heard.
Caleb Levi Galffy, 23, appeared in the District Court last week, via video link from Mount Gambier Prison, where a court heard he decided to drive the stolen motorbike after pleas from his girlfriend to take her home.
The Paralowie man has pleaded guilty to aggravated cause harm by dangerous driving and numerous other driving charges after the collision in July last year.
His ex-partner was flung from the bike during the crash, sustaining serious injuries.
Lawyer Carolina Tassone, for Galffy, said her client felt remorseful and guilty and said he made the decision after his girlfriend asked to be taken home. She is not charged with any wrongdoing.
“He made an impulsive decision and was under the influence of drugs. The complainant, his partner at the time, was harassing him to take her home,” she said.
“He didn’t want to go. He was reluctant to go. The conversation with the complainant, his partner at the time, went back and forth.
“He says that being under the influence, poor impulse control, he made an impulsive decision to calm her down, just wanted to make her happy, his mental health was exasperated, he felt pressured, he wasn’t thinking clearly.”
Ms Tassone said Galffy admitted to a psychologist that he was using excessive amounts of meth leading up to the crash.
“A month leading up to the offending he admitted to Dr Fugler that he had used up to four points of amphetamines daily. He made an impulsive decision and was under the influence of drugs,” she said.
Ms Tassone also asked the court to take Galffy’s personal circumstances into consideration while sentencing him, stating he had a traumatic childhood and has suffered with his mental health and an intellectual disability for quite some time.
Prosecutor Timisha Ward said Galffy had a number of drugs in his system at the time of his arrest and asked to court to impose an immediate term of imprisonment.
“He was deliberately speeding and has overtaken another vehicle illegally resulting in a serious accident which caused harm to the victim and damaged another vehicle,” she said.
“The personal circumstances of Mr Galffy are set out in the report of Dr Fugler and his remorse. In my submission, they don’t equate to a good reason to suspend and don’t outweigh the factors that I have outlined which call for an immediate custodial sentence.
“In my submission, this offending involves some degree or a significant degree of moral culpability.”
Galffy will next appear in the District Court next month for sentence.
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