A father has been disqualified from driving after dangerously ‘driving at’ his son

A Mango Hill father who had a “mental meltdown” and drove at his son in a car has been disqualified from driving for six months.

Pine Rivers Courthouse where a man was fined for dangerously “driving at” his son following a domestic dispute. Photographer: Liam Kidston.

A MANGO HILL father who had a “mental meltdown” and drove at his son in a car has been disqualified from driving for six months.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared via phone-in at Pine Rivers Magistrates Court on Monday and pleaded guilty to one charge of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

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Defence solicitor Ben Taylor told the court that after a domestic incident at their home, the son left the house after “an uncharacteristic outburst” from the father.

The court heard that the father then got into his car and drove after his son, crossing onto the wrong side of the road and onto a footpath.

A witness to the incident was able to get the teenager to safety.

“It was an ill-thought out and angry attempt at scaring him into some discipline,” Mr Taylor said.

“It’s an offence for which he is very remorseful. He and his son have had a more positive relationship since this incident.

“The two driver offender programs he has undertaken since are evidence of some rehabilitation on his behalf.”

Magistrate Trevor Morgan said he was more concerned about the man’s temper than about his driving.

In sentencing, magistrate Morgan said it was an alarming situation in which the man “drove at” his son dangerously on more than one occasion.

“I accept that the child has at times challenging behaviour and it manifested itself on that day,” he said.

“But ... it beggars belief that you might have behaved in the way that you did, thinking in any way it would have a positive affect on the child.

“You don't put out a fire by throwing petrol on it,” he said.

Magistrate Morgan said it was also concerning how long the incident went on for.

“By the time that you had your mental meltdown and decided to chase him in the car, you had plenty of time to actually cool down and rethink what you were doing,” he said.

“It goes on for so long without you giving it a moment of thought and cooling down, it seems to me to be remarkably serious.”

“And If I was you I would be having a lot of thought into how I could manage my anger in the future.”

The man was fined $1000 and disqualified from driving for six months.

No conviction was recorded.