Cohn William Oliver: Logan motocross rider sentenced for burnouts, drifting, jumping from moving car

A 21-year-old motocross rider has been ordered to pay more than $6000 by the court after driving recklessly on the wrong side of the road and leading police on a chase, which ended only when he jumped from his moving car.

A young motocross rider has faced sentence in an Ipswich court for driving recklessly on the wrong side of the road, conducting a drift U-turn, and jumping from a moving vehicle before being tackled by police.

Cohn William Oliver, 21, from Flagstone appeared in Ipswich Magistrates Court on Wednesday, May 11, where he faced 11 charges including three counts of dangerous operation of a vehicle, two counts of unlicensed driving, and one count each of evasion, disqualified driving, obstruct police, possess tainted property, operating during a number plate confiscation period, and attaching a number plate to a vehicle.

The court heard he entered pleas of guilty for each charge on Tuesday, May 10.

The offences took place on four separate occasions between February and December last year, with the first three incidents characterised by Magistrate Dennis Kinsella as perhaps being “less serious” while the fourth drew the court’s “attention and concern”.

The first offence took place in a Rocklea industrial area, where the speed limit was 50km/hour, on February 14 last year.

The court heard Oliver attended an informal car event in the area about 12am and conducted a burnout for some 30 seconds while one of his passengers was “hanging out” of the vehicle.

On May 4 last year, the young man was intercepted by police and found to be driving without a licence.

Later that month, on May 20, he again attended an industrial area, this time in Swanbank, and conducted a 30-second burnout in front of spectators at a time between 7pm and 8pm.

The court heard Oliver left the scene, along with others, when police arrived.

The fourth and “most serious” of the offences occurred in December last year while Oliver was on bail.

About 6.30pm in a busy area, police saw him driving at speed on the incorrect side of the road, manoeuvring around stationary vehicles, and conducting a drift U-turn.

He continued driving even after he popped his tyre and police turned on their lights and sirens. Oliver’s vehicle began producing sparks.

The court heard other vehicles had to take evasive action and the young man jumped out of his car while it was still operating. Oliver was told by police to stop but failed to do so and was subsequently tackled.

He was disqualified from driving at the time and found to be in possession of stolen number plates.

Defence lawyer Shannon Chen said her client had the support of his family and was a much-loved uncle to his two nephews, aged two and four.

Ms Chen said Oliver had, in his younger years, pursued a career in motocross but had to give up that dream after sustaining debilitating injuries in an accident.

He now works as a machine operator in a factory.

Magistrate Dennis Kinsella noted Oliver was a youthful, first-time offender who co-operated with police and generally presented as a person with sporting and employment prospects.

Mr Kinsella told the young man his behaviour was criminal and stupid, particularly as there are places he can legally drive fast and execute the manoeuvres he clearly enjoyed.

For the dangerous operation of a vehicle offence committed on December 20 last year, Oliver was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. The term was wholly suspended with an operational period of 12 months.

A conviction was recorded for that offence, but not for any others.

Oliver was fined more than $6800 for the evasion offence and ordered to serve 12 months’ probation. He was also disqualified from driving for a period of two years for the evasion and driving while disqualified offences and for a period of six months for the two unlicensed driving and the three dangerous operation offences.

“Twenty-one, you’ve got your life ahead of you,” Mr Kinsella told Oliver.

“You can use this as a life lesson or you can just give up and keep doing the same sort of stuff. Make a choice.”