Tomas Mitchell Croft cops fine for dangerous drive and cocaine stash

An ‘idiotic’ P-plater has been given a grave warning after his potentially deadly driving led police to finding his stash of cocaine. READ WHAT A MAGISTRATE HAD TO SAY:

An “idiotic” P-plater has been urged to grow up after his potentially deadly driving led police to his stash of cocaine, a court has heard.

Tomas Mitchell Croft was fined a total of $1000 in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Tuesday, April 26, 2022 after he pleaded guilty to three offences including dangerous operation of a vehicle and possessing dangerous drugs.

Police prosecutor Mark Burrell told the court police were driving on the Sunshine Motorway towards Mountain Creek when they spotted Croft tailgating a car while travelling at high speed down an on-ramp at 6.15pm.

Senior Constable Burrell said Croft erratically cut across a painted traffic island and lanes before speeding down the motorway.

Police had turned their lights and sirens on when Croft cut across the left lane and darted up the Kawana Way off-ramp.

The 21-year-old, who said he was on his way to football training, failed to give way when entering a roundabout at high speed and didn’t indicate before pulling over down Broadwater Ave.

When speaking to police Croft said he had a 1g (approximate) bag and another used bag of cocaine in his car.

Magistrate Matthew McLaughlin questioned why Croft wasn’t charged with evading police.

Mr McLaughlin said Croft’s behaviour of pulling off the motorway after police turned on their sirens was suspicious.

“Sounds like he was trying to avoid the police, (but) perhaps he left his toothbrush at home,” he said.

Mr McLaughlin gave Croft a grim warning for his “stupid and selfish driving”.

“You were driving in a very erratic fashion at high speed close to other vehicles, swerving in and out of lanes erratically without indicating, failing to give way to a person on a roundabout, just really stupid driving,” he said.

“You can kill people driving like that.”

Tomas Mitchell Croft pleaded guilty to three offences including dangerous operation of a vehicle in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Tuesday. Picture: Sunshine Coast Daily.

Constable Burrell confirmed Croft was not charged with evading police and suggested a fine and disqualification period as an appropriate punishment.

The Mountain Creek resident and P-plater also didn’t have his red P-plates displayed on the car.

Duty lawyer Matt Cooper said the unemployed 21-year-old had no criminal or traffic history and had entered an early plea of guilty.

Mr Cooper said Croft acted as a carer for his father three hours a day and had previously worked as a soccer coach and landscaper.

He noted there was no crash or damage caused during the offending and asked for a fine and the minimum disqualification period to be imposed.

“ (Mr Croft is) a young person who has committed an offence as a result of his youth,” Mr Cooper said.

He said in his role as a former soccer coach Croft needed a blue card that could be impacted by a conviction.

Mr McLaughlin noted Croft’s young age, lack of history and guilty pleas and said he wouldn’t record a conviction.

He urged Croft to “grow up”.

“Every time I drive to Brisbane and back I usually see one idiot and I often say to my wife ‘there is the idiot for the day’, you would have been it,” he said.

“Cars are not toys they are very dangerous.”

No convictions were recorded.