Mitchell Kevin Crane pleads guilty in Roma Magistrates Court to drink driving and driving without due care

A 25-year-old man observed speeding off from police, turning off his headlights and driving on the wrong side of the road in an effort to hide himself has landed in Roma court.

A livestock truck driver who sped away from police, turned off his headlights and drove on the wrong side of the road told police that he was unaware they were trying to pull him over.

Mitchell Kevin Crane pleaded guilty in Roma Magistrates Court to drink driving over the general alcohol limit and driving without due care, with a charge of evading police dropped after no evidence was provided.

Police prosecutor Mathew Donnelly said on February 8 Roma Police were conducting roadside breath tests on Raglan St when they saw a Holden Commodore turn onto Currey St.

The court was told police proceeded to follow the vehicle and activated their lights and sirens.

The 25-year-old then accelerated, switched his headlights off and drove on the wrong side of the road.

As police began to abandon their search, Crane’s brake lights gave him away as he turned onto a dirt road.

A short time later they found the vehicle abandoned in a carpark.

Mitchell Kevin Crane pleads guilty in Roma Magistrates Court to drink driving over the general alcohol limit and driving without due care.

“Police conducted a search and located a male person inside a prime mover parked directly next to the vehicle who identified himself as the defendant,” Mr Donnelly said.

“He was in possession of the vehicle’s keys and police found his wallet inside the driver’s side of the door.”

He admitted to consuming alcohol within the past 24 hours, with breath analysis revealing a blood alcohol concentration of 0.075.

“He stated he did not know police were trying to intercept him and could not see police lights or sirens,” Mr Donnelly said.

“When questioned why he accelerated and turned off his headlights and was travelling on the wrong side of the road, he stated he didnt realise his car headlights had turned off.”

The court was told the Grafton man had a previous conviction of drink driving from 2021.

Acting magistrate Michael Bice fined Crane a total of $1000 and disqualified him from driving for two months.

Convictions were recorded.