Douglas William Roberts, 39, was in an illegal street race against a VW Golf along Musgrave Street

A man whose job was reliant on him being able to travel long distances claimed a late night street race was a spur of the moment decision while he was “just out for a drive”. Here’s what happened to him in court.

A man whose job was reliant on him being able to travel long distances claimed a late night street race was a spur of the moment decision while he was “just out for a drive”.

The two cars involved reached speeds of 125kmh and 136kmh along the 60kmh zoned Musgrave Street - a North Rockhampton stretch which is notorious for illegal street racing.

Douglas William Roberts, 39, pleaded guilty on March 2 in Rockhampton Magistrates Court to one count of illegal street racing.

Police prosecutor Stacey Bain said police observed two high performance vehicles – a black Ford XR6 and a silver VW golf – about 11pm on November 13 travelling northbound on Queen Elizabeth Drive and speeding past other vehicles.

She said once past other vehicles, they raced along Musgrave Street until “the Volkswagen hatch pulled forward from the sedan”, causing both vehicles to brake heavily and end the “impromptu street race”.

Douglas William Roberts, 39, pleaded guilty on March 2 in Rockhampton Magistrates Court to one count of illegal street racing.

Ms Bain said the Ford clocked up to 125kmh while the VW clocked 136kmh.

Roberts had a three-page traffic history and his car was impounded for 90 days.

Roberts’ lawyer Mr Brown said his client claimed he was “enticed” by the other driver when they pulled up beside him at traffic light.

“He made the spilt second foolish decision to participate,” he said.

Magistrate Cameron Press asked if Roberts gave Mr Brown instructions as to why he was along Musgrave Street at 11pm on a Thursday night.

“You see, that’s when the hoons go charging along Musgrave Street every Thursday evening,” he said.

“I just query if it was a split second decision to engage in a race or whether in fact he was along there actually looking for a race.”

Mr Brown said his client instructed “he was just going for a drive that evening”.

Mr Press responded: “It just so happens he is in the right place at the right time.”

Mr Press said he found it hard to find Roberts was “just out for a drive” and happened to be driving along Musgrave Street late on a Thursday night.

Mr Brown said Roberts accepted his 20-year traffic record was “poor”, however he had no like offences for street racing.

He said his client, a father of three, was the sole income earner for the family until recently, with his wife having to find a job after this offence due him needing to be able to travel large distances.

Mr Press disqualified Roberts from driving for eight months and fined him $850.