Dale Edward Pyritz sentenced for disqualified driving after moving a friend’s car from a busy road

A Sunshine Coast man who has racked up 16 disqualified driving offences has landed in court again for driving without a licence. Find out why.

A Sunshine Coast man who has racked up 16 disqualified driving offences has faced court again after moving a friend’s car off a busy road without a valid licence.

Dale Edward Pyritz, 46, pleaded guilty at Caloundra Magistrates Court on Thursday, May 12, 2022, to four driving offences which were committed on November 26, 2021.

Pyritz was charged with driving with a disqualified licence, driving an unregistered vehicle, driving an uninsured vehicle, and driving while using a number plate from another vehicle.

The court heard the 46-year-old was a passenger in the vehicle when his friend who was behind the wheel suffered a mental breakdown in the middle of a traffic island on a busy road.

Pyritz then drove the vehicle off from the traffic island to a nearby car park before being intercepted by police shortly after.

The vehicle belonged to a person known to Pyritz and the original driver, the court heard.

Police Prosecutor Sergeant Stephen Potter said Pyritz had committed the offences while on two suspended sentences on the day of his offending.

Dale Edward Pyritz

Sergeant Potter said the last disqualified driving charge Pyritz faced was in 2019 when he received 12 months imprisonment including 55 days pre-sentence custody.

The former transport company worker was handed 18 months imprisonment in 2011 which was the highest sentence for the offence.

Sergeant Potter asked for Pyritz to receive two suspended sentences concurrent with 18 months imprisonment and to be eligible for parole after serving one third of the sentence.

Defence lawyer Rowena Ferrall told the court Pyritz would apply to have his licence disqualification removed after he received a job offer with a transport company in Gympie where he used to work.

Ms Ferrall said after the incident Pyritz moved to the Sunshine Coast to be closer to his eldest son who he is receiving support from along with his other children.

She said the 46-year-old has made efforts to get his life back on track and asked for any jail sentence to be wholly suspended or for Pyritz to be granted immediate parole.

Magistrate Catherine Benson said Pyritz’s track record of 16 disqualified licence offences as “staggering” and that a term of imprisonment was the only appropriate ruling.

“I accept you have made genuine attempts to get your life back on track in the last couple of years,” Magistrate Benson said.

“You have made significant steps and have significant support, your family clearly care a great deal about you.”

Ms Benson sentenced Pyritz to 18 months in jail with immediate parole and said he would be sent to jail if charged with related offences again.

Convictions were recorded.