Blake Cross sentenced for street racing Jorja Wheeler at Chatham, Taree

“It’s not a game” the magistrate said when sentencing a second teen for street racing through the middle of a Mid-North Coast town at speeds of up to 150km/h.

Where Victoria Street become Chatham Avenue at Taree.

The second teenager involved in a late-night, high-speed street race through the middle of Taree has been sentenced.

Blake Cross was 19 at the time of the race along Victoria St towards Chatham about 11.30pm on December 11 last year, which reached speeds of up to 150km/h and crossed seven ‘blind’ intersections.

Cross was racing Jorja Wheeler, who has already been sentenced for her part in the incident.

She was 17 at the time and has since appealed the severity of her sentence in the District Court. That matter is listed to be heard on August 14.

Cross originally pleaded not guilty to street racing but guilty to reckless driving but it was revealed in Taree Local Court on Wednesday, June 28, that he had changed his plea to guilty, without accepting the police estimate of 150km per hour.

Blake Cross leaves Taree court on Wednesday, March 1.

His lawyer told the court that Cross believed it to be 130km per hour, but for Magistrate Allison Hawkins this made no difference.

“In terms of stopping time it makes no difference,” Ms Hawkins said

“If somebody is there, they are dead.”

She said the consequences of the race could have been a lot worse.

“Your parents could have got the knock at the door saying you’re dead or you could be in court because somebody else has died.”

The court heard Cross works at the local McDonald’s in a senior managerial position and often has to travel to Port Macquarie and Forster and has been relying on lifts since his licence was suspended at the time of the incident.

With many of his shifts ending after midnight he has also had to take taxis - spending well over $600 on trips, the court heard.

Blake Cross’ co-accused Jorja Wheeler leaves Taree Local Court on Wednesday, March 8

In sentencing Cross, Ms Hawkins had some strong words of warning.

“This is not a game of Grand Theft Auto. You don’t crash and get to press a button and start again.”

For reckless driving he was convicted and disqualified from driving for 12 months and fined $550

In relation to street racing he was convicted and fined $550 and disqualified from driving for three years, backdated to the time of the offence.

Cross was also ordered to serve a 12-month community corrections order.

A third charge of speeding more than 45km per hour over the speed limit was dropped.

Ms Hawkins told the court that the three year disqualification for street racing is a mandatory disqualification period put in place by the NSW parliament.