Justin Brian McMahon: ‘Institutionalised’ offender to spend another Christmas in jail

A man who has spent much of his adult life in and out of jail will spend yet another holiday season behind bars after ignoring court orders and continuing a shocking pattern of offending.

A judge has blasted a Nanango man’s “terrible” driving history and told him he had no choice to but to sentence him to spend yet another Christmas behind bars.

Justin Brian McMahon, 46, fronted Kingaroy Magistrates Court on Tuesday, December 7, coming before the court with a seven-page traffic history.

McMahon pleaded guilty to four counts of driving without a licence disqualified by a court, which occurred between March 8 and November 12 this year.

Police told the court on each occasion McMahon told officers he didn’t have a licence and gave a variety of excuses, ranging from test driving a car to taking over driving for his girlfriend who had become “uncomfortable”.

He was also charged with possessing a motorbike suspected of being stolen, possessing drug utensils and contravening a direction.

McMahon said he didn’t believe the motorbike was stolen as it had come with keys when he bought, but he was unable to provide a receipt or identify the person he bought it from.

Lawyer Mark Werner told the court his client had only bought the bike for its engine, which he intended to use in a go kart.

Mr Werner described McMahon to the court as a man who had spent significant time behind bars, and had been “institutionalised”.

“I’m told that he’s only spent a couple of Christmases out of jail in his adult life. And inevitably, that is the goal today that he will spend this Christmas out of jail,” Mr Werner said.

However this wasn’t to be, with Magistrate Andrew Sinclair taking a dim view on McMahon’s continue disregard for the court, noting he had previously been jailed for disqualified driving.

“You have a terrible traffic history,” Mr Sinclair said.

“You've abused the privilege of being on bail, you don’t seem to pay any regard to the orders of the court.”

McMahon was sentenced to six months’ jail and disqualified from driving for five years.

His parole release date was set for February 7.