Marc Yaacoub fronts court for driving offences
A carpenter with “one of the worst driving records’’ a magistrate has seen has fought to retain his licence so he can continue working as a tradesman.
Parramatta
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Fairfield West carpenter Marc Yaacoub’s “appalling” traffic history of 32 offences landed him in court again after he got behind the wheel while disqualified and used a mobile phone.
At Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday, Yaacoub, 24, was sentenced after he added to the record after his misdemeanours on the Cumberland Highway, Wentworthville, on July 2.
Court papers state the phone was on his lap when police pulled him over and asked to produce his licence.
“I left it at home officer, I think its expired to be honest,’’ the fact sheet state Yaacoub told police.
Police checks revealed the licence application was refused on May 18 and had expired in July last year.
Before driving in July, he had not driven since November.
This week, Yaacoub’s lawyer told the court he had to cycle 5.5km each day to reach a co-worker’s home so he could get a lift to work.
Magistrate Peter Feather told Yaacoub racking up six offences a year was simply not good enough.
“You have one of the worst records I’ve seen. It’s appalling,’’ he said.
“If you continue this sort of driving record you’re going to be involved in some serious collision.
“You need your licence, you’re a carpenter. If you need your licence, you need to guard it jealously.’’
Magistrate Feather reminded Yaacoub of the state’s road toll.
“Three hundred and fifty five people died on NSW roads last year,’’ he said.
“Already this year 205 people died on NSW roads, 10,500 people have been seriously injured.”
Yaacoub was convicted, fined $1000 and disqualified from driving for four months.
He was slapped with a $349 fine for using his mobile phone and stripped of five demerit points.