Ben William Hall imprisoned for hooning and endangering lives on Bendigo streets

A show-off who got behind the wheel of his $700 Ford and lit up the street doing burnouts in front of Bendigo clubbers has burnt his last bit of rubber for some time.

A young Echuca father who did burnouts on the streets of Bendigo, “taunting” police, will spend more than two years in prison.

Ben William Hall, 28, appeared in County Court on Thursday.

The court heard that in May 2022, Hall bought an olive green Ford Falcon for $700 from a scrap metal dealer in Benalla.

He drove it to Bendigo a few days later and with two other men attended The Deck nightclub at 1.15am.

Echuca man Ben William Hall. Photo: Facebook

The trio left about four minutes later, and as they went back to the vehicle were recorded saying: “Get the Mexo flag out and take off the hubbies”.

Hall then did a series of burnouts and swerves across McCrae St, which were encouraged and filmed by onlookers.

A passenger held a large Mexican flag out the window.

A police car arrived and Hall, apparently “taunting” the officers, drifted close to the vehicle.

During his manoeuvres the side of his car hit the front corner of the police car.

On a nearby street, Hall was also captured on CCTV running a red light.

Hall collided with a police car while doing burnouts in Bendigo. Photo: Facebook

Police afterwards discovered the burnt shell of the Falcon and arrested Hall at his home.

In a previous hearing, Hall pleaded guilty to recklessly exposing an emergency worker to risk by driving and to conduct endangering life.

The court heard he suffered parental neglect growing up and had learning difficulties.

Judge Frances Dalziel called his behaviour “very immature” and said his sentence would signal to people who found his actions exciting that “real and serious consequences” stemmed from them.

Hall was sentenced to 26 months in prison, with a non-parole period of 13 months and 157 days already served.