Joshua Dean Mathews pleads guilty to charges arising from homemade Hyundai convertible than ran a red light in Adelaide

The driver of a homemade convertible that ran a red light in front of police has pleaded guilty – and says he ‘doesn’t care’ because he is ‘already going to jail’.

A man who has not held a licence in six years has admitted driving a homemade convertible – a Hyundai with the roof chopped off – through red lights on the streets of Adelaide.

Joshua Dean Mathews made a brief appearance in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday – after first threatening violence toward media outside.

“Why are you pointing that camera at me, mate? How much does it cost? How would you feel if I smashed it on the ground?” he said.

He said he was not concerned by the potential consequences of his threats.

“What do I care? I’m already going to jail,” he said.

Joshua Dean Mathews, centre, leaving the Adelaide Magistrates Court. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz.

Mathews, 25 of Elizabeth, was arrested in May and charged with failing to comply with a bail agreement and driving without a licence.

He was further charged with failing to stop at red traffic lights and breaching the state’s vehicle maintenance requirements.

The charges arose from an incident at Glenelg when SA Police spotted Mathews driving his decapitated white Hyundai Excel along Jetty Road, Glenelg, just before 1am.

The car driven by Mathews at the time of the offending. Picture: SA Police.

Police alleged he and the other occupants of the car – which had crash damage to its rear – verbally abused officers before running a red light in front of them.

After a short pursuit, police pulled Mathews over in Glenelg North and, during his arrest, discovered he had not held a licence since 2015.

On Tuesday, Mathews pleaded guilty to all four charges and was remanded on continuing bail to face court again next month.

He declined to comment – but made an obscene gesture toward media cameras – as he left court.