Melissa Susan Bidgood hit with huge fine, given jail sentence after evading police in pursuit at Yeppoon

A serial traffic offender “clearly off the rails” has been hit with a massive fine and given a jail sentence after leading police on a dangerous night-time pursuit at Yeppoon.

Melissa Susan Bidgood.

A serial traffic offender who evaded police in her speeding hatchback has been hit with a massive fine and given a jail sentence.

Melissa Susan Bidgood, 41, pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court on November 10 to speeding, driving over continuous lines, failing to stop, disqualified driving and contravening a police requirement.

The court heard that Bidgood’s offending happened on the evening of August 21.

Police Prosecutor Sergeant Kevin Ongheen said Yeppoon police were conducting a static mobile radar site in a marked police vehicle on Barmaryee Road (6okm/h stretch).

Sgt Ongheen said at 6.35pm, police saw Bidgood driving a small silver hatchback at an estimated speed of 85km/h and a mobile radar was activated which clocked her at 84km/h.

The prosecutor said police activated emergency lights and sirens, and as they did this, Bidgood overtook a vehicle in front of her by crossing double white lines.

“And this was on top of a hill,” Sgt Ongheen said, before adding that Bidgood accelerated away from police.

“Police continued to follow the vehicle for 300m with the emergency lights and sirens activated.

“Police also flashed the spotlights fitted to the police vehicle at the offending vehicle as an extra measure to alert that driver that the police were attempting to intercept them.

“It became clear that the offending vehicle was not going to stop as there were numerous places to pull over and the vehicle’s speed continued to increase.”

Sgt Ongheen said Bidgood’s hatchback “also continued to pull away from the police.”

The police pursuit was stopped.

The court heard police continued their patrols and located Bidgood’s vehicle with her crouching behind it.

Police spoke to Bidgood and she told them she was unlicensed.

In fact, she was disqualified from driving by a court order.

“(Bidgood) stated she was speeding and when she saw the (police) lights come on she knew she would have been in trouble for speeding and the unlicensed driving so she decided not to stop,” Sgt Ongheen said.

The court heard Bidgood had offences including drink-driving, unlicensed driving, and disqualified driving on her five-page traffic history and that she had previously received prison terms for her traffic offending.

The court was told that Bidgood worked at The Strand Hotel and solicitor Cam Schroder said his client was attempting to “get back on track” with counselling.

“Clearly she’s off the rails,” Mr Schroder said.

“But she is attending counselling - she’s got a new job at the hotel.

“She’s very valued there - she works exceedingly long hours and is valued highly by the general manager.”

Before handing down penalty, Magistrate Grace Kahlert noted Bidgood’s “concerning” traffic history and lectured her about her offending.

“You are very, very lucky that you didn’t have a collision with somebody and that could have led to either yourself or somebody else being killed or seriously injured,” Ms Kahlert said.

Ms Kahlert fined Bidgood $7187.50, sentenced her to one month jail wholly suspended for six months, and disqualified her from driving for four years.