Cody John Dolan faces Toowoomba Magistrates Court, pleading guilty to wilful damage and dangerous operation of a vehicle

In addition to a week in the watch-house, a 40-year-old lost his job of six years and copped a hefty fine after he nearly ran down his manager while driving wildly a Harristown street.

A former bakery worker has lost a lot of dough after he faced court for a losing control of his car while doing a burnout, nearly hitting his former boss.

About 7.50pm on August 2 Cody John Dolan hurled a rock through a window of his former partner’s car, Toowoomba Magistrates Court was told on Thursday.

Later that night the 40-year-old father of two was with a friend driving in Harristown where he turned into Warwick Street at speed, losing control and driving onto the grass footpath, police prosecutor Anita Page said.

The court was told at the time of the incident Dolan’s manager was outside the business where he worked on that street.

Continuing at speed along the footpath, Ms Page said Dolan went within two metres of the manager, who had to jump backwards to avoid the car.

“The defendant has honked as he went past the manager, then stopped in front of the Warwick Street entrance and then has spun the tyres of the vehicle causing loss of traction and smoke coming from the rear tyres,” Ms Page said.

Dolan then continued to the intersection of Warwick and Yaldwyn streets and continued to do another burnout until a tyre burst after it became so bald it wore through.

The court was told about 7am the next day Dolan called police to report the same vehicle had been stolen.

After obtaining CCTV footage and speaking to Dolan’s manager police arrested and charged him on August 4.

In court on Thursday Dolan pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a vehicle and wilful damage.

Dolan’s solicitor Chelsea Saldumbide submitted the driving offence was a “serious example” of a dangerous operation of a vehicle, and that her client had no explanation or excuse other than that a few punts on the TAB had got up.

Ms Saldumbide said that on top of the seven days he had spent in the watch-house, Dolan had also lost his job of six years at Homestyle Bake as a result of the incident, and that the court can take into consideration the extra-curial punishment he had suffered through his own conduct.

“There’s been a significant loss to him as a result of his behaviour,” she said.

Magistrate Clare Kelly said there was “no justification” for Dolan’s actions, and that his manner of driving put himself, his friend and the community at risk.

Dolan was convicted and fined $1200, referred to SPER, and disqualified from holding a driver’s licence for six months.

Originally published as Cody John Dolan faces Toowoomba Magistrates Court, pleading guilty to wilful damage and dangerous operation of a vehicle