Kelepi Junior Leao, 24, in Beenleigh Court for Daisy Hill motorbike crash hit and run

A Logan driver’s shocking hit and run of a motorcyclist where he chased, tailgated and crashed into the rider before fleeing from the scene, has landed him in court.

Kelepi Junior Leao, 24, leaving Beenleigh District Court

A Logan driver’s shocking hit and run of a motorcyclist where he chased, tailgated and crashed into the rider before fleeing from the scene, has landed him in court.

Kelepi Junior Leao, 24, was driving on the Pacific Motorway and turning into Chatswood Road, Daisy Hill when he encountered a motorcyclist.

The rider hit Leao’s side mirror with his handlebar and then sped off, heard Beenleigh District Court on Friday, July 11.

New Zealand-born Leao then chased after the motorcyclist and signalled for him to pull over but the rider refused and put his middle finger up instead.

Leao followed him for a kilometre and began gesturing aggressively at him and drove into the same lane as the rider.

He then swerved deliberately into the bike which caused the victim to fall off and hit his head on the road as Leao fled the scene without stopping.

He pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a vehicle causing grievous bodily harm before leaving the scene for the crash on February 11, 2022.

The court heard the victim suffered an open fracture to his arm when he fell off the bike as well as a broken tibia which required surgery with several screws.

Crown prosecutor Catherine Burkett said the behaviour was concerning.

“It was a road rage incident where he took the matter into his own hands,” she said.

“It was extremely reckless with an intention to scare or threaten the rider.”

Judge Craig Chowdhury said dangerous operation of a vehicle was taken very seriously by the courts.

“This is quite concerning. You don’t resort to tailgating,” he said.

“You’re very lucky the injuries weren’t worse and you could have killed him or left him in a wheelchair.”

The court heard Leao faced deportation to New Zealand if sentenced to a custodial order, in which he would spend time behind bars.

Judge Chowdhury considered the father of three’s lack of criminal history and sentenced him to two years prison, wholly suspended for two years.

His drivers licence was also disqualified for 12 months.