Kenneth McCann sentenced for impersonating a police officer during a road rage incident at Morphettville

A 74-year-old hoon has copped a spray in court after pretending to be a cop – even flashing a badge – in a Hollywood-esque road rage incident.

An elderly hoon was told to “grow up” by a magistrate after he sideswiped a driver and then pretended to be a police officer to avoid responsibility.

Kenneth William McCann, 74, narrowly avoided jail in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Friday, after he flashed a fake police badge during an intense road rage incident.

Kenneth McCann was sentenced in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Friday for representing a police officer. Photo: Lucy Rutherford

The court heard McCann was driving his Mercedes on Morphett Rd, Morphettville on November 16, 2019.

“There was some element of a cat-and-mouse interaction between you and the other driver,” magistrate John Wells said.

The court heard McCann was tailgating the other driver unnecessarily.

“Your conduct was bewildering … at some point you were driving next to the other driver and side-swiped him,” Mr Wells said.

“This pushed the car out of his lane into a turning lane.”

The court heard the other driver chased McCann until he pulled over.

“During that exchange you pulled out a badge which said ‘special police’ on it,” Mr Wells said.

“The other driver laughed that off, saying that’s not a real police badge.”

The court heard the car driven by McCann also had ‘polizei’ written on it, which is German for police, as well as a red light in the back of his car.

“Soon after you rang the other driver, you said ‘I’m a sergeant and one of my officers has hit your car, just get a quote and I’ll take care of it’,” Mr Wells said.

“The other driver recognised your voice and said ‘is this Ken?’ and you said ‘no, it’s not me’.

“That exchange is comical, it reveals your desire to absolve yourself from responsibility.”

The court heard McCann has a “poor driving history,” including doing burnouts and also has convictions for assault.

“The footage I have seen shows your driving was dangerous and deplorable,” Mr Wells said.

“I am more than 20 years younger than you, it feels odd for me to say this to you but you need to grow up.”

McCann, of Glandore, pleaded guilty to representing a police officer and dangerous driving.

Con O’Neill, for McCann, told the court the car McCann was driving had previously been used in an antique car rally and it had ‘polizei’ on it as a joke.

“He was irritated and angry with the other driver’s behaviour,” he said.

“He’s an old fool for doing that and he knows that.”

Mr O’Neill asked for McCann to be given another chance to “not be the oldest hoon in the Adelaide”.

“He spends his weeks volunteering here, there and everywhere, he has a very good name in the community,” he said.

Mr Wells sentenced McCann to two months and three weeks jail.

It was suspended on a two-year good-behaviour bond for $500.

McCann was also disqualified from driving for two years and ordered to complete 120 hours of community service.

“Let’s never meet again inside a courtroom,” Mr Wells said.