Burns victim George Massoud sentenced for driving disqualified for the 21st time

A mechanic caught driving disqualified more than 20 times has been warned to not “hide behind” a shocking workplace accident which left him with third-degree burns to 85 per cent of his body.

George Massoud leaving Burwood Local Court. Picture: Dylan Arvela

A Sydney magistrate has held herself back from sending a severe burns victim behind bars after he was caught driving while disqualified for the 21st time since 2004.

George Joey Massoud, who technically is not allowed on the roads again until 2078, was sentenced at Burwood Local Court this month for disqualified driving and having custody of a knife.

The court heard Massoud, of Roselands, was pulled over by police in Auburn in September, 2024, after he merged into traffic without indicating.

The-then 50-year-old was upfront with police about his disqualification before adding “I am stupid”.

During a search of the car police found a pocket knife in a toolbox.

George Massoud suffered severe burns from a workplace accident in 2019. Picture: Dylan Arvela

The court heard this incident occurred while Massoud was on a community correction order and parole.

In court, Massoud’s lawyer Mohammed Shukur submitted Massoud, who is a mechanic by trade, had been caught in a “highly televised” workplace accident in 2019.

As a result, Massoud suffered third-degree burns to 85 per cent of his body, was in a coma for five months, in hospital for a further seven and required an additional six months of rehabilitation.

“He suffers significant nerve damage,” Mr Shukur said.

“His vision is significantly impaired, he needs further surgery and he requires daily medical attention.

The lawyer submitted 16 of the disqualified driving charges came prior to the accident.

Mr Shukur said Massoud would not be able to receive the appropriate medical treatment in jail and proposed house detention as one of the sentencing options for Magistrate Razia Shafiq.

The court heard since September Massoud had sold his two cars as well as his “prized” Harley Davidson motorcycle so he would not be “tempted” to drive.

Magistrate Razia Shafiq said sentencing George Massoud was a “balancing act”.

Mr Shukur also said Massoud had recently been appointed an NDIS worker to courier him to and from necessary medical appointments.

“I don’t see any reason I shouldn’t be sending him to jail, he has too many on his record,” Ms Shafiq pondered.

However, Ms Shafiq said if Massoud was offence free for a period of two years he could apply with the RMS to get his licence back while describing the older legislation where disqualification periods accumulate as “draconian”.

“I did not know that,” Massoud said from behind his lawyer.

“It was a horrific accident (in 2019) and it is not something someone should ever go through, though no one can hide behind whatever the experience in life in breaching the law.,” Ms Shafiq said.

“It would be very easy today for me to send you to jail, however, when I do a balancing act, despite the many opportunities you have been given, I still feel on this occasion the threshold (for full-time jail) is not crossed, but only just.”

Massoud was sentenced to a nine-month intensive correction order which will run until November.

“You were not going to get that from any other court,” Ms Shafiq, who became a magistrate in December, said.

“I may be new as a magistrate, but I have been practising law for over 30 years and I have seen many of you go to jail.”

Massoud was also convicted and fined $300 for possessing the knife.