Joshua Moulder: Wonthaggi man jailed after injuring lawyer in crash

A soon-to-be father who caused a serious crash and left a Gippsland lawyer hospitalised, has been jailed.

Joshua Moulder pleaded guilty at Korumburra Magistrates Court.

A Wonthaggi man who caused a serious crash that left a prominent Gippsland lawyer hospitalised has been jailed.

Joshua Moulder, 30, pleaded guilty at Korumburra Magistrates’ Court on May 19 to multiple charges including dangerous driving, refusing to undergo a drug test and possessing a prohibited weapon, ice and ecstasy.

The court heard witnesses saw Moulder driving erratically in Yarragon on February 15, 2020.

He failed to stop at traffic lights and ran into the rear of a car that was stationary.

Moulder appeared to be affected by drugs and was confrontational towards police when they arrived at the scene.

Police searched his car and found knuckle dusters, ice and ecstasy.

Moulder refused to undergo a drug test, saying “take my f**king licence, I really don’t care”.

The victim — a Gippsland lawyer — was hospitalised.

The lawyer said in her victim impact statement that she had “suffered significantly”.

“I jump when cars come near us and I couldn’t drive through Yarragon for weeks,” she said.

“I had issues sleeping and jumped at loud bangs.”

The self-proclaimed “workaholic” said she had to take a month off work which impacted her firm.

She said the immediate behaviour of Moulder was “extremely concerning”.

“He kept screaming ‘f***’ and acting aggressively,” she said.

“I’m angry about how much this has affected me mentally and physically … as I continue to seek treatment for my nerve damage and whiplash.”

Moulder’s lawyer Stacey Stanley said the man struggled with drug addiction.

“That is going to be the battle,” Ms Stanley said.

“If he doesn’t stop using methamphetamine, he will no doubt find himself spending the rest of his life in and out of custody.”

Ms Stanley said there were “significant events” in Moulder’s life that had motivated him to turn his life around such as the death of his dad and partner’s pregnancy.

Magistrate Simon Zebrowski said “everybody” that comes before him has a “turning point” and “proof is in the pudding” as to whether they change their behaviour or not.

“You know what happens when you take drugs and commit offences? You go to jail and miss important family events,” Magistrate Zebrowski said.

“That’s the whole point of jail, it’s a punishment … you are taken away from the outside world.”

Moulder was sentenced to six months imprisonment, had his licence cancelled and disqualified for three years and was fined $1500.

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