Jorja Wheeler in Taree court for Victoria St race with co-accused Blake Cross
A 17-year-old, who only had her licence for “five minutes”, wept as she was sentenced for racing another P-plater and driving recklessly through the centre of a Mid-North Coast town.
Mid-North Coast
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A 17-yr-old driver, who only had her licence for “five minutes”, wept as she was sentenced for street racing and driving recklessly through the centre of Taree late at night.
Jorja Wheeler faced Taree Local Court on Wednesday where she pleaded guilty to charges stemming from the race which police allege reached speeds of 150km per hour in a 60km zone through the built up area of Victoria St.
Wheeler was charged with taking part in a race between two vehicles and driving recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous.
A third charge of speeding more than 45km over the speed limit was withdrawn.
The Taree P-plater raced another teen, alleged to be 19-year-old Blake Cross, down Victoria Street at around 11.30pm on December 11 last year.
Cross appeared before Taree Local Court on March 1 and pleaded not guilty to street racing but guilty to reckless driving.
His matter has been adjourned to April 12.
Magistrate Allison Hawkins had some strong words for Wheeler, telling the court she had only had her licence for “five minutes”, was “extremely inexperienced” and her actions posed a huge risk to the public.
Ms Hawkins said the community was fed up with hearing about P-platers crashing and dying.
“How did you think this was going to end? Going 130km along a built up area.
“I have a drawer full of P-platers dead – I do coronial reports on those deaths.”
According to police documents tendered to court Wheeler was driving a white Mazda 3 and the co-accused was in a black Mazda 3.
Police facts state the race went along Victoria St (which becomes Chatham Ave) towards Plover St in the Chatham area for just under 2km and crossed seven ‘blind’ intersections.
For the street racing charge, Wheeler was convicted and fined $550 and for reckless driving she was convicted and fined $550 and disqualified from driving for three years.
She has also been placed on a 12-month community corrections order.
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