Nathan Ronald Bork: Ipswich hoon faces Beenleigh court for ‘frightening’ driving

A “young and reckless” Ipswich hoon has been dealt huge fines in a Beenleigh court for burnouts, fishtailing, and smoking tyres on a busy road in peak-hour traffic. VIDEO

A young Ipswich man has faced sentence in a Beenleigh court for driving — completing burnouts, fishtailing, and creating a cloud of tyre smoke — on a busy road in peak-hour traffic.

Nathan Ronald Bork, 21, of Redbank Plains appeared in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Wednesday, July 13 where he pleaded guilty to two offences: dangerous operation of a vehicle and failure to comply with a requirement to produce a vehicle.

Prosecutor Sergeant Kellie Cullen told the court the dangerous operation charge laid against Bork related to the afternoon of August 17 last year, when he was travelling home from work on Redland Bay Rd at Capalaba.

A woman, who was the passenger in a car her son was driving, reported seeing a blue Ford Sedan pull out into a left lane, complete a burnout and commence fishtailing about 3.10pm.

“The witness further stated that there was a lot of smoke coming from the … rear car wheels and the tyres were leaving rubber marks on the road,” Sgt Cullen said.

“The car continued to fishtail for about 100m before it caught up to traffic.”

The witness took a photo of the Ford Sedan while waiting at red traffic lights, noticing its driver was a caucasian man who had a nose ring.

As the lights turned green, the woman said the car commenced another burnout, its wheels spinning and smoke wafting up. She said her son, a learner driver at the time, was “frightened” and had to take evasive action.

On August 30, while being questioned by police about the incident, Bork confirmed the car was his and that he would have been driving it at the relevant time.

He said he had “no comment” about the nature of his driving and police had “no evidence” it was dangerous.

On September 3 at Yamanto, Bork failed to produce his car for impoundment as required.

Ms Cullen told the court Bork had numerous other driving offences on his criminal and traffic history.

Defence solicitor Devyn Wanigesekera said his client was “really struggling” when he committed the offences, as his great-grandfather had recently died and his mum had suffered a heart attack.

He noted he was also “young and reckless” at 20 years old and never intended to harm anyone with his actions.

The court heard Bork had already spent 78 days, about 2.5 months, in custody and been ordered to serve two concurrent terms of probation of 12 months and nine months for other driving offences he committed.

Mr Wanigesekera said the young man now worked in concrete pumping and hoped to one day start a business of his own in the industry.

Magistrate Michael O‘Driscoll raised that Bork already owed more than $8000 in fines for other offending.

He said he was concerned about the 21-year-old’s “very serious” offending, stating the dangerous operation offence in particular indicated he had no consideration for his own safety or that of other road users and pedestrians.

Mr O’Driscoll took into account Bork’s plea of guilty and his personal circumstances, ultimately issuing him a fine of $2500 for the dangerous operation offence and $1500 for the failure to comply offence.

Bork was also disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver’s licence for 12 months.

“If you come before the court again with your history, and I must say without a doubt your history is deplorable, I guarantee you will be going to spend time in custody,” Mr O’Driscoll told Bork.

Convictions were recorded.

Two other matters relating to him allegedly stealing and driving while disqualified were adjourned so Bork has an opportunity to review the relevant CCTV material.