Cruz Williams sentenced for drink-driving, menacing driving in Mount Annan, Narellan

The victim called police while they were still driving as they were scared they would be run off the road. Read what happened.

A learner driver who was drink-driving then tailgated a stranger and threw beer cans at the car while the victim was on the phone to police.

Cruz Williams, 30, appeared at Picton Local Court for sentencing on Wednesday after pleading guilty to mid-range drink-driving, driving as an unaccompanied learner, menacing driving and damaging property.

Court documents reveal the victim drove onto Main Street, Mount Annan and ended up between an unknown person in a blue car and Williams in another vehicle.

Both drivers put their hands out the window and put up their middle finger, leaving the victim in the middle believing it was aimed at him.

Williams, an Elderslie resident, then undertook the victim on the left hand side of the road travelling in the exit lane and pulled closely in front of the victim.

The victim sounded his horn due to the proximity and when Williams pulled off the left side and stopped, the victim stopped and said “hey mate are you OK”.

The facts tendered to court said Williams got out of his car and the victim got scared and drove off, but Williams followed and tailgated at him.

At one intersection Williams shouted “I don’t care where you’re going I’m going to follow you. You can go home and I’ll follow you there”.

The victim replied “I don’t know who you are, I don’t know what you want” and called police as Williams continued to tailgate him.

Williams then threw three beer cans, two of which caused damage to the victim’s car.

The victim was on the phone with a triple-0 operator and directed police to his location.

Officers pulled Williams over and uncovered that he was a learner driver, and during a breath test he blew a mid-range reading of 0.099.

During an interview with police, Williams made full and frank admissions.

Picton Courthouse.

The victim told police he was scared, shaking and was fearful that William’s manner of driving would have caused him to run off the road.

In court on Wednesday, Williams’ lawyer told the court the tailgating was a “relatively short distance” but acknowledged it would have caused fear to the victim as he was chased.

He said Williams had worked as a spray painter for 15 years and had three children.

The lawyer said Williams’ co-operation with police showed insight and remorse for his actions.

Magistrate Mark Douglass said he found Williams’ understanding that he needs to learn to control his “hot-headedness” refreshing.

He sentenced Williams to a 12 month community corrections order, fined him $950, and also disqualified him for 12 months.

The charge of being an unaccompanied learner driver was dismissed.