Serial traffic offender convicted for driving while disqualified

A serial traffic offender from Thirlmere has been sentenced to ten months imprisonment, to be served in the community, after pleading guilty to driving without a licence for the seventh time.

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A serial traffic offender has been sentenced to ten months imprisonment, to be served in the community, after pleading guilty to driving without a licence for the seventh time.

Matthew Vincent Crawford, 39, dressed in a Canterbury Bulldogs hooded jumper with sunnies on top of his head, struggled to explain his horrific driving record when representing himself at Picton Local Court this afternoon.

Matthew Vincent Crawford outside Picton Local Court today.

The Thirlmere man was first convicted of driving while suspended in 2002 with his driving record worsening in recent years, convicted on six occasions for driving without a licence in the past eight years.

Since 2014, he has been convicted on four occasions for driving while disqualified.

The landscaper, who provides for six people, told Magistrate Ian Cheetham he was trying his fix his horrendous driving record and had adopted a mental health plan.

The police facts stated Crawford was driving a gold Nissan Navara with a trailer on the Camden Bypass about 1.10pm on February 4 when he was pulled over at a Random Breath Testing station.

When asked to produce a licence, he told police he didn’t have one before further explaining it was disqualified.

Magistrate Ian Cheetham took into account Crawford’s guilty plea and sentenced him to a ten month Intensive Corrections Order with conviction and 180 hours of community service.

He was disqualified from driving for ten months and will be eligible for a licence on March 28 next year.