Blake David Pinchin: Logan dad fronts court on swag of driving charges

A South East Queensland dad has appeared in court facing a swag of charges after he was caught dangerously riding a motorcycle to the funeral of a motorcycle crash victim.

A Logan dad was on his way to the funeral of a friend who died in a motorcycle accident when he was caught driving dangerously and while unlicensed, a court has heard.

Blake David Pinchin, 28, of Park Ridge appeared in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Monday, July 11 via video-link from custody on nine charges including driving without a licence, contravening a direction of police, dangerous operation of a vehicle, evasion, and failing to wear a motorcycle helmet.

The court heard all offences were committed in March this year, while Pinchin was on parole for more serious offences such as robbery, arson, weapons charges, and evasion.

Prosecutor Sergeant Kellie Cullen said the father was seen to be riding a motorcycle without a helmet and was directed to stop by police about 11.18am on March 29.

He was apprehended by officers at Loganlea before, in an effort to get away from them, riding onto a footpath, across to the wrong side of the road, and completing a “wheelie”.

Earlier that month, on March 2, the man was intercepted by police while driving a car unlicensed. He received a notice to appear in court and at the police station but failed to do so by March 9.

Ms Cullen said Pinchin had put members of the community at risk and should receive a head sentence of between six to nine months’ imprisonment.

Defence solicitor David Gilmore told the court his client had been in custody in relation to the offending for 3.5 months by Monday.

He said Pinchin had a difficult childhood and had been quite affected by his autism and intellectual disabilities. The court heard he has an eight-year-old child and a second on the way.

Mr Gilmore noted the 28-year-old was “ironically” on his way to the funeral of a close friend who died in a motorcycle accident when he drove dangerously on a motorcycle, explaining it was a time of heightened emotion.

Magistrate Tracy Mossop took into account Pinchin’s pleas of guilty, intellectual struggles, background, and the facts of the matter before ultimately sentencing him to six months’ imprisonment.

She declared the 102 days he spent in presentence custody time already served under the sentence and gave him immediate parole eligibility.

Pinchin was disqualified from holding or obtaining a licence for two years.

Convictions were recorded on all counts.