Kurtis Ray Ward in Hervey Bay court for dangerous driving
Just a week after he crashed into an elderly man and left the scene as he lay dying, a Hervey Bay man was chasing a teen on his motorbike at a family skatepark.
Police & Courts
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A magistrate has told a Hervey Bay court it was by “good fortune” that no one was injured at a family skatepark when Kurtis Ray Ward chased a teenage boy while riding a motorcycle.
Ward, 26, pleaded guilty in Hervey Bay Magistrates Court on Friday, November 4, to dangerous operation of a vehicle and driving without a licence while SPER suspended.
The court heard that Ward committed the offences while he was on bail for another dangerous driving offence.
Ward is serving a seven-year jail sentence after he pleaded guilty in Hervey Bay District Court in September to dangerous operation of a vehicle and failing to remain at the scene with callous disregard.
The sentence was in relation to a fatal hit and run that killed 84-year-old Gordon Brinsmead at River Heads on October 8, 2021.
On Friday the court heard Ward confronted a 16-year-old boy at Skateside, Pialba, on Saturday, October 16, 2021, just over a week after the fatal crash that claimed the life of Mr Brinsmead.
Ward rode directly towards the teenager at the skatepark, and started following him while riding a trail bike.
Senior Sergeant Edwards told the court on Friday the teenage boy tried to use a van that entered the Skateside carpark to “protect himself” as Ward did laps around him and the van.
Ward’s licence was also SPER suspended at the time.
Defence lawyer Morgan Harris told the court his client received a “panicked phone call” from his younger brother who was being “assaulted” by the 16-year-old boy.
While Mr Harris noted Ward’s conduct was dangerous, he said there were no injuries as a result of his actions.
When the sentence hearing resumed on Monday, November 7, Magistrate Michael Holohan told the court it was “by good fortune” no one was injured.
He highlighted the teenage boy would “long remember that day in the skatepark”.
“All I can say is that victim in this case, Mr Ward, must have been terrified and clearly this was your intent,” Mr Holohan said.
Mr Holohan told Ward he put the safety of the 16-year-old boy at risk, who he “deliberately targeted while riding a motorcycle”, causing the boy to try and use a van as shelter.
Mr Holohan said despite that, Ward continued to chase the boy.
The court heard Ward had already spent 54 days in custody as of November 6, 2022.
Ward was sentenced to nine months’ jail and suspended from driving for six months for the dangerous operation of a vehicle charge.
For the other charge, he was suspended from driving for one month.
Convictions were recorded.
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