Cody Andrew Hargraves, 24, cops criminal conviction for shocking dangerous drive incident

An outing nearly ended in tragedy after a kitchen hand used his car to ‘explore’ a popular Gold Coast walking track, a court has heard.

A young kitchen hand’s “bizarre” joy ride on a popular pedestrian and cyclist’s track in his car left an innocent woman injured and abandoned and a man with a baby nearly struck, a court has heard.

Appearing at Cleveland Magistrates Court on Tuesday, Cody Andrew Hargraves, 24, of Capalaba copped a criminal conviction for the shocking incident.

The court heard the defendant was at Sea World Resort in the Gold Coast on November 21 when he decided to “go exploring” in his Mitsubishi.

Having manoeuvred his vehicle around a locked gate he drove into a park and onto a popular walking and cycling track.

According to the prosecution, multiple witnesses were shocked to observe him speeding on the path before he lost traction.

He barely avoided striking a male cyclist with a baby.

A female cyclist, alarmed at his near collision, fell from her bicycle and injured her hand and shoulder, the court heard.

Cody Andrew Hargraves, 24, of Capalaba leaves Cleveland Magistrates Court. Picture: Marcel Baum.

Hargraves observed the woman’s fall, reversed his vehicle and did a U-turn before speeding off, the court was told.

“He hasn’t made any attempt to remain at the scene and render aid or exchange particulars as required,” a police prosecutor said.

The defendant was interviewed about the incident on January 20 and admitted the woman fell due to his driving, but downplayed the incident and showed no remorse, according to the prosecution.

The offending came on the back of two speeding offences and was so serious it could warrant a jail term, the court heard.

Defence solicitor Katelyn Sherrin said her client suffered from autism, Asperger's and anxiety and found speeding soothes his anxiety.

The court heard Hargraves works as a kitchen hand two days a week, was father to an eight-year-old and lived with his mother for support.

Magistrate Deborah Vasta said it was fortunate Hargrave’s victim was not more seriously injured during the “bizarre” and “serious” incident.

She ordered the defendant to complete 100 hours of unpaid community service and disqualified him from driving for a minimum mandatory six months.

A conviction was recorded.