Holden a write-off as 22-year-old with 5-page traffic history fumbles ‘emotive’ burnout after brawl
A young man who removed his registration plates and jumped fences to evade police after crashing his Holden during a burnout, blamed copping a few punches to the head in a brawl for his poor decision making. But it’s not his first car-related offence, by a long way.
Redlands Coast
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A 22-year-old roofer with a five-page traffic history which included 29 speeding tickets has been told by a court he is going to kill someone if continues to drive to his emotions, after he wrecked his car while doing a burnout.
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Appearing at the Cleveland Magistrates Court yesterday Joseph Terrance Ash pleaded guilty to one count of dangerous operation of a vehicle.
The court heard Sunnybank Hills man Ash had lost control of his Holden Commodore while doing a burnout at around 9.55pm on August 22 at Passage Street in Cleveland, crashing heavily into a palm tree and doing significant damage to his vehicle.
Police prosecutor Senior Sergeant Duncan Blackburn said witnesses observed Ash removing his registration plates before jumping fences of nearby properties to escape.
Sen Sgt Blackburn said with over 200 Queenslanders already killed on roads this year such on-road behaviour posed a serious threat to the community.
The court heard the incident occurred near a large number of people at the Redlands RSL further aggravating the offending which was “not to be tolerated”.
Making matters worse, the court was told the defendant had a “shocking” five-page traffic history which included 29 speeding offences and a six-month licence disqualification for exceeding the speed limit by 40 km/h.
Defence solicitor Bruce Johnston said his client, who has worked as a metal roofer full-time for the past six years, had been punched multiple times in the head during a large brawl at the Grand View Hotel and “wasn’t thinking straight” when he crashed.
Mr Johnston acknowledged the defendant’s “appalling” traffic history and said his client realised he may very well lose his employment on the back of this latest incident.
Shocked by the young man’s traffic history, Magistrate Deborah Vasta played the court a graphic road safety video articulating the horrors involved with irresponsible driving.
The faces of all those killed thus far this year were also shown as a poignant reminder of what is at stake on our roads.
Although Ash was adamant he had not drunk before driving, Magistrate Vasta said that could not be decided because he had fled the scene of the accident and police had only spoken with him on August 27.
The defendant was sentenced to 18 months’ probation, disqualified from driving for six months and ordered to complete the Queensland Traffic Offender Program (QTOP).
A conviction was recorded.