Rhyse Rockley Laurence Blyton hid his car in bushland after doing illegal burnouts at his former school and an airport

Police received information about a vehicle left at a cemetery “with its wheels completely burnt out”. Here’s why the offender was “p---ed off” and how it all unfolded.

A Central Queensland man who did illegal burnouts outside his former school and at an airport, destroyed his car in the process.

Rhyse Rockley Laurence Blyton, 21, pleaded guilty in Biloela Magistrates Court on March 23 to two counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Kevin Ongheen said that on October 14 last year, police received information about a vehicle doing burnouts on Herzog Street, Moura.

“The informant advised that a blue Ford Falcon was seen driving dangerously along Herzog Street at 2.30pm, at the side of Moura State High School, before conducting a single burnout and then driving erratically back past Nott Street,” Sgt Ongheen said.

“The informant identified the driver as (Blyton).”

Sgt Ongheen said two days later, police received information about a vehicle abandoned at Moura cemetery “with its wheels completely burnt out”.

“The informant stated the vehicle was seen doing burnouts at the Moura Airport in the early hours of the 16th of October, 2021, about 12.30am,” Sgt Ongheen said.

Police went to Moura cemetery on October 16 and found Blyton’s blue Ford Falcon hidden in bushland.

“The vehicle had extensive damage to the rear tyres, to the point where only the rims were visible, and the entire tyre was melted away,” Sgt Ongheen said.

“The rear bumper of the vehicle was also seen to have been placed into the back seat of the vehicle, and was protruding out both windows.”

Sgt Ongheen said the Ford Falcon was seized for a mechanical inspection and lodged at the Moura holding yard.

The prosecutor said during a police interview, Blyton denied the incident outside the school, saying that he was in Gladstone with a friend.

“When questioned further, he (Blyton) was unable to provide the friend’s name or anyone that could verify this,” Sgt Ongheen said.

Sgt Ongheen said after further questioning including police telling Blyton about the witness, he made full admissions to committing the burnout “directly in front of the school at 2.30pm” because “something p---ed him off, he got angry, as a result did the burnout”.

“He (Blyton) stated that he knew it was stupid and that it was dangerous doing it in a school zone, especially around the end of school time when the speed limit is 40kmh.”

Also during the police interview, Blyton spoke about the airport incident, saying he wanted to celebrate his birthday and he went to the airport and did a burnout.

“He (Blyton) stated that he limped the vehicle back into town after the tyres disintegrated (and) he parked it behind the cemetery so that he could come and put new tyres on it the following day,” Sgt Ongheen said.

“He said he knew it was stupid and he did it because he hadn’t been to a burnout comp in over a year.”

Sgt Ongheen said conducting a burnout in a school zone outside Moura State High School was “extremely foolhardy and reckless”.

The court heard Blyton had no traffic history that would impact these proceedings.

Solicitor Richard Parks said Blyton was the son of a coal mining dad and he experienced a good childhood.

Mr Parks said Blyton left school after finishing Year 10 at Moura State High School and started working as a yardsman at Moura cattle yards.

Mr Parks said Blyton spent some time living at Emerald before moving back to Moura in mid-2021 when he “got involved in the wrong crowd and became associated with the drug scene”.

“And had some issues with his alcohol intake,” Mr Parks said.

“It was during this period he has also committed these offences.”

Mr Parks said Blyton was working for Elders as a second-in-charge yardsman at a tick clearing facility and he would not lose that employment as a result of this “hooning” offending.

“He accepts he did the wrong thing and is remorseful for that,” Mr Parks said.

“He was out of control, he did the wrong thing, he admits it.

“He’s destroyed his car (with this offending).

Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale said she did not understand how that was a celebratory thing before fining Blyton $1250 and disqualifying him from driving for 12 months.

No conviction was recorded.