Matthew Leonard Winfield pleads guilty in Chinchilla Magistrates Court to five charges including driving without control after he landed in hospital

The man was told in court that he was lucky to be alive, let alone standing in Chinchilla court facing charges for dangerously riding a motorcycle and causing a major crash.

A Chinchilla man learnt the hard way that there are road safety rules for a reason after a decision to dangerously ride a motorcycle without a helmt led to him being flown to hospital before appearing in court.

Matthew Leonard Winfield pleaded guilty in Chinchilla Magistrates Court on February 23 to driving a motorbike unlicensed, unregistered, uninsured, driving a motorbike without wearing a helmet and not maintaining proper control of the vehicle.

On January 26 at 6.15pm witnesses alerted police about a traffic crash after they spotted Winfield collide with a water tank, the court was told.

Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins said on the Australia Day evening Winfield was observed doing a “wheelie” as he drove his motorbike on one wheel before hitting a bump in the road and crashing into a tank.

Winfield travelled a further 75 metres from the bump in the road, suffering significant injuries before he was flown to the Princess Alexandra Hospital.

He suffered fractures to his spine as well as a traumatic brain injury however he has since made a full recovery.

“He doesn’t recall anything from the day other than going to work,” Sergeant Hutchins said.

“He’s learnt his lesson more than he could learn from the court. Protective clothing is really paramount.”

Winfield said he wished he “wasn’t dumb enough to do it”.

Magistrate Kyna Morice said she was sure Winfield had learnt his lesson and “won’t be behaving like that again”.

“You’re incredibly lucky you’re standing here today,” she said.

Winfield was fined $300 and disqualified for three months for driving uninsured and fined a further $500 for all other charges. All convictions were recorded.