Aiden Patrick Lilley faces Mackay court for dangerous driving, fraud

A 25 year old’s crash into a police car was his pinnacle crime capping off three years of offending that included fraud, stealing and multiple evasions. Here’s what happened.

Aiden Patrick Lilley faced Mackay Magistrate Court on Thursday, March 28, 2024. Picture: Facebook

A young hoon, who had never held a licence and drove at more than 40km/hr over the speed limit crashing into a police car, was asked if he knew the survival rate for someone being struck by a Ford Territory.

Aiden Patrick Lilley’s conduct on January 25 this year was a “particularly egregious” example of dangerous driving with only “good luck” keeping the offence out of the district court, Acting magistrate Paul Byrne said.

Mackay Magistrates Court heard Lilley had failed to remain at the scene after the crash, which occurred while he was driving 106km/hr in a 60 zone with “extremely poor” lighting conditions.

Prosecutor Leonie Taufa’ao said the offence finalised Lilley’s “long” three-year span of criminal behaviour that also included three evade police at night, fraud, stealing, failing to appear at court and breaching bail conditions.

The court heard Lilley, who pleaded guilty to a total of 14 offences, had already spent 62 days in presentence custody.

But Mr Byrne said that was not “going to cut the mustard” as he challenged the prisoner - who appeared via videolink - over whether he knew the odds of someone surviving being struck by a Ford Territory, the vehicle Lilley had crashed.

Solicitor Adam Harvey, of Harvey Legal, said Lilley’s age and the fact nobody was hurt in the crash worked in his favour, as he pushed for 12 to 18 months’ jail.

Mr Harvey said Lilley, who grew up in Collinsville before moving to Mackay and completing school to Year 10, had kept busy in prison getting workplace tickets - his client planned to live his with sister and work as a labourer at the mines upon release.

Mr Byrne said it “boggles the mind” Lilley could by law only be fined for failing to stay at the crash scene “as long as no one gets hurt”.

He warned the 25 year old that police would monitor his licence plate as well as his sisters until he moved down the “red flag” list.

His sister is not accused of any wrongdoing.

Mr Byrne said Lilley’s sentence must protect the community and denounce his “dreadful spate of offences” as he ordered he serve 12 months’ jail with a parole release date of May 25.

He further disqualified Lilley’s licence for two years and recorded convictions.