Logan Central man Simon Gary Hastings, 50, sentenced for dangerous operation of a vehicle

A father-of-four who purposely slammed on his brakes while in the “fast lane” during Tuesday peak-hour traffic, has swapped vehicular chaos for pursuing insurers in his rear-view mirror.

A 50-year-old father-of-four who caused a four-car pileup after he purposely jumped on the brakes while travelling at 100km/h in the passing lane, has blamed a “meltdown” on his potentially deadly behaviour.

Logan Central man Simon Gary Hastings was handed a criminal conviction at his Beenleigh Magistrates Court appearance on Friday (June 1).

He pleaded guilty to a single charge of dangerous operation of a vehicle.

The court heard Hastings on January 18 at 4.30pm was travelling at around 100km/h in the “fast lane” on the Pacific Motorway in Tanah Merah with vehicles eager to pass behind him when, without warning, he slammed on his brakes.

The court heard he had no obstruction in front of him and came to a complete stop.

Dashcam footage from another vehicle confirmed Hastings’ actions, which resulted in a four-car “concertina” crash.

According to the prosecution, no one was injured but multiple vehicles suffered significant damage.

Logan Central man Simon Gary Hastings, 50, was sentenced at Beenleigh Magistrates Court for dangerous operation of a vehicle. Picture: Marcel Baum.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Karine Evans said the inexplicable manoeuvre appeared to look like road rage, after a vehicle had flashed its lights and followed closely behind Hastings but at no stage made contact with his vehicle.

The court heard Hastings had two passengers in the car with him.

Multiple insurers were pursuing the defendant for damages, the court was told.

His offending was aggravated for occurring after a 2017 drink drive offence during which he returned a 0.062 per cent breath-alcohol reading.

A defence solicitor for Hastings said the defendant could not explain his behaviour and put it down to having a “meltdown” while feeling “overwhelmed”.

The court heard Hastings had since stopped driving and sought counselling and treatment for anxiety and depression.

The defence confirmed he faced mounting costs from insurers.

Magistrate Terry Duroux noted Hastings had placed other road users and himself in significant danger.

The considerable costs sought against the defendant were acknowledged as extra-curial punishment.

Hastings was sentenced to 12 months’ probation and disqualified from driving for nine months.

A conviction was recorded.