Coffs Harbour truckie Mitchell Josef Sippel successfully appeals road rage sentence in Taree District Court

A Coffs truck driver who menaced a Lexus driver – flashing his lights and waving a metal pole out of a car window – has kept his licence after a successful court appeal. Here’s what happened.

Taree police station and courthouse.

A Coffs Coast truck driver who menaced another motorist – flashing his lights and waving a metal pole out of a car window – has kept his licence after a successful court appeal.

Mitchell Josef Sippel previously pleaded guilty to a charge of knowingly driving a vehicle in a manner that menaces another, following an incident on the Pacific Highway at Johns River, north of Taree, on August 18 last year.

Magistrate Allison Hawkins said a “disturbing set of facts” were presented by police when the 29-year-old Coffs Harbour man faced Forster Local Court for sentencing in early June.

Officers detailed how Sippel drove a silver Hyundai iLoad van like a “lunatic”. The court heard he tailgated another man driving a Lexus CT and flashed his lights at the driver travelling south on a two-lane section of the highway.

Sippel drove at the Lexus from behind at speed and flashed the car as the driver was overtaking another vehicle. The man behind the wheel was forced to slow down because he was having difficulty seeing, police state in court documents.

Mitchell Josef Sippel leaves Taree District Court on August 29 after having his conviction quashed. Picture: Janine Watson

Sippel drove alongside the victim’s car, yelled and began “hanging out” of the driver‘s window while waving an 18-inch pole, at one point swerving into the man’s lane, the court heard

The man in the Lexus made it to Raymond Terrace and reported the incident at a police station.

The victim’s dashcam “clearly captured” Sippel’s offending, according to police.

Sippel was interviewed at Coffs Harbour Police Station on December 28 and told officers he got frustrated and “pulled something out and waved it out the window”.

Asked why, Sippel said: “I don’t know, just to tell him to chill out and stop him from being a d--k. Heat of the moment, dumb to intimidate him.”

In June, defence lawyer Todd Scott told the court his client had been a truckie “for a long time” and worked on the Coffs Harbour Bypass project up to 65 hours per week.

An artist's impression of the Shephard's Lane tunnel art wall along the Coffs Harbour Bypass.

Sippel was visibly upset when he realised his sentence would include an 18-month licence disqualification.

Ms Hawkins also ordered Sippel to serve an 18-month community correction order, including anger management classes, and fined him $750.

However, Sippel appealed that sentence before Judge Penny Wass in Taree District Court last Thursday.

Mr Scott told the court Sippel’s licence suspension meant he could not work or adequately fulfil family obligations.

Judge Wass upheld the appeal and told the court both the original sentence and conviction were quashed.

Sippel will be able to get his licence back and no conviction was recorded against him.

The 29-year-old was ordered to serve an 18-month conditional release order and told to “make his best endeavours to engage in anger management programs”, court documents state.

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