Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court: Barry Gladman faces charges of unlicensed driving, careless driving

A boozed-up Warragul cook admitted he has never had a licence when he got behind the wheel of a car and promptly crashed, fleeing the scene.

An unlicensed Warragul cook got behind the wheel and drove home from a golf club, crashing into a parked car and fleeing the scene in the early hours of the morning.

A Warragul cook who has never held a licence jumped behind the wheel and tried to drive home from a golf club before he crashed into a parked car and fled the scene.

Barry Gladman, 65, fronted the Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday where he pleaded guilty to unlicensed driving, careless driving of a motor vehicle and leaving the scene after an accident, while a charge of drink driving was struck out.

In July last year, Gladman, who is a cook and a former mechanic, was drinking from 12.30pm at the Warragul Country Club until late that night.

About an hour after midnight, Gladman decided to drive home, before he crashed into a parked Suzuki Swift.

The court heard Gladman made no attempt to stop or contact the owner of the vehicle — who was home at the time, heard the crash, and later discovered the damage to her car that was declared a write off.

Police also arrived at the scene and saw what damages were done to the car.

The court heard Gladman spoke with police, made full admissions to driving, that he’d only held a learner’s permit and was taken to the Warragul police station.

Barry Gladman, 65, faced driving charges at the Latrobe Valley Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

He was breath test and returned a positive reading, being hit with an immediate driving ban.

In an interview with police, Gladman said he didn’t know what he hit, but didn’t think it was a person.

He told the court he hasn’t drank since the incident and has never held a licence.

“I just apologise for what I’ve done,” Gladman said.

Magistrate John Lesser said the situation could have been worse.

“Sounds like you had far too much to drink and made a poor decision,” Mr Lesser said.

Mr Lesser took into account Gladman was cooperative with police, fined him $2900 without a conviction and suspended him from driving for 15 months.

He will also pay the owner of the Suzuki $420 to cover the damage costs.