Jordan Robert Melrose: Fined for dangerous Wellington Point hooning

A magistrate says this bayside community is so distressed about serial hooning she had to send a message to a man busted for a dangerous drag race.

A court has been shown “very disturbing” footage of a teen drag racing side-by-side with another vehicle on a two-way Wellington Point lane “constantly” targeted by hoons.

Jordan Robert Melrose, 19, formerly of Redlands and now of Kensington Grove, was supported by his mother at his Cleveland Magistrates Court appearance today.

Melrose, a pet shop owner, pleaded guilty to a single charge of operating a vehicle dangerously in any place — a charge carrying a maximum penalty of five years’ jail.

The court heard Melrose was captured on video by a concerned resident.

The footage shown to the court captured Melrose racing at high speed on Main St about 7pm on February 21.

He was driving in the lefthand lane in his white Holden sedan, while a fellow hoon raced alongside him into oncoming traffic, around a blind corner, near Wellington Point Recreation Reserve.

Additional footage from Redland City Council – from cameras specifically installed to document frequent hooning – showed Melrose and other hoons gathering at the car park.

Jordan Robert Melrose, 19, leaves Cleveland Magistrates Court. Picture: Marcel Baum.

A third video taken by police bodycam from a motorcycle showed the outlay of the road and where the hoons raced.

The court could see how busy the 50km/h road was, its relatively narrow width, the presence of pedestrians and vehicles parked along it.

“The local community has had enough,” police prosecutor Emily Ollenburg said.

“The people in this area are particularly affected by this behaviour.”

Ms Ollenburg asked Magistrate Deborah Vasta to impose a penalty that would deter other offenders from further endangering residents.

Melrose had no previous similar offences but in 2018 was charged with not having proper control of a vehicle.

He also had multiple speeding offences on his traffic history, the court heard.

Defence solicitor Kurt McDonald said his client had co-operated fully with police, had completed the Queensland Traffic Offenders Program and had moved out of the Redlands for a fresh start with family.

Mr McDonald said a fine and a minimum licence disqualification of six months would be penalty enough for his client, whose life was looking up.

The court heard Melrose, who has developmental issues, had opened a pet shop with his brother in Logan and was heavily dependent on his ability to commute.

Ms Vasta said she was familiar with the growing distress of residents along Main St and noted they would be furious were a penalty imposed that did not deter further hooning.

“It is really disturbing,” she said

“I have a lot of sympathy for the people at this street.”

Melrose was fined $1000 and disqualified from driving for the minimum mandatory six months.