Rapper ChillinIT Blake Turnell sentenced for disqualified driving in Peakhurst

Australian musician ChillinIT had his court case for driving while suspended finalised ahead of becoming a father for the first time next week.

Australian rapper ChillinIT, aka Blake Turnell was sentenced for driving while disqualified when he appeared with his lawyer Ahmed Dib (left) in Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

Australian rapper ChillinIT has been disqualified from driving for six months after he was caught for the fifth time behind the wheel while suspended.

Blake James Turnell, better known as ChillinIT, was sentenced in Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday where he was ordered to do 120 hours of community service after he pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified.

Agreed facts tendered to court said Turnell was driving a black BMW in Peakhurst about 5pm on November 7 last year when he was stopped for a roadside breath test.

He told police he did not have his drivers licence on him and could not access the Service NSW app to view the digital copy.

Police checks revealed Turnell had been suspended after being convicted of driving with an illicit drug in his system.

Blake James Turnell, known as ChillinIT, pleaded guilty driving while disqualified in November last year. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

The court heard Turnell had previously been disqualified from driving four times and had two other major driving offences since getting his learner’s licence in 2012.

In court, defence lawyer Ahmed Dib said Turnell knew there was “no excuse” for him to have driven because he knew his licence had been cancelled.

“His partner was the person driving him around and on that evening he made the foolish decision to drive himself,” Mr Dib said.

“He has a driving history that he is not particularly proud of. Next week he will become a father for the first time.

“He knows that as his music career continues to grow he is coming to the time when he needs to set an example for younger generations.”

Mr Dib said Turnell had taken responsibility for his actions in an apology letter to the court.

Rapper ChillinIT (right) with lawyer Ahmed Dib (left) outside Sutherland Local Court on a previous occasion. Picture: Eliza Barr

Magistrate Phillip Stewart accepted Turnell was remorseful and placed him on a two year community correction order where he must be of good behaviour, complete the traffic offenders program, do 120 hours of community service work and was fined $600.

He was also disqualified from driving for six months.

Mr Stewart gave Turnell a stern warning to “not come back before the court and don’t you dare drive”.

“Your potential music career ahead of you will not come to fruition if you drive again while suspended,” he said. “You won’t sell any records while in jail.”

Turnell boasts 327,000 Instagram followers and released his debut album, Women Weed and Wordplay, in 2018, and is working on his fifth album.