Magistrate Simon Zebrowski calls out ‘selfish’ driving on Hume roads

A magistrate will start “making an example” of drivers who reach high speeds in an effort to evade police, labelling the trend an “epidemic” after a Tungamah man sped away from cops at 171km/h.

A Shepparton magistrate says people failing to stop on police direction on Hume roads is a “massive issue”.

A magistrate will start “making an example” of drivers who reach high speeds in an effort to evade police, labelling the trend an “epidemic” after a Tungamah man sped away from cops at 171km/h.

Magistrate Simon Zebrowski said there was a “massive” issue with people knowing police would be forced to terminate pursuits if they reached high speeds.

“It worries me people do this to get away from police,” the magistrate said.

The comments came as Matthew O’Kane pleaded guilty in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on Friday to driving while suspended, dangerous driving and failing to stop for police.

O’Kane, 28, was observed by police on October 16 driving in Tungamah shortly before 10pm.

Officers attempted to intercept him, sending up the flashing red and blue lights, but O’Kane refused to stop and instead increased his speed.

He was detected going 171km/h on Devendish Rd — a 100km/h zone — when police stopped their pursuit.

They went to O’Kane’s home that evening to find the front door window smashed and no one home.

Six days later O’Kane attended the Yarrawonga police station, telling officers he’d been away harvesting at a farm with a friend.

However, the friend told police he’d been away on his honeymoon in Queensland at the time.

O’Kane also told police at the time, he had returned home from harvesting to find his house broken into and his car stolen but didn’t report it because his cousin found the vehicle the next day on a back road of St James.

Tungamah man Matthew O’Kane appeared in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court after failing to stop for police. Picture: Jack Colantuono

Then, in January, O’Kane was spotted towing a trailer in Leitchville despite his licence having been suspended just two months earlier when he was caught speeding at more than 30km/h over the limit.

The 28-year-old said he didn’t know his licence had been suspended.

Defence lawyer Geoff Clancy said O’Kane could not explain why he evaded police and that it was “a stupid thing to do”.

Mr Clancy said his client was someone who got involved in the community through the football club and fighting fires.

He said O’Kane struggled with his mental health but was engaged in counselling services.

Mr Zebrowski said it was a miracle more people weren’t killed on roads.

“This is taking on epidemic proportions … I am going to start making an example of these people, this will not be tolerated,” he said.

“Imagine taking a corner at 171km/h and taking out a woman and her baby in the pram, he would be in County Court for culpable driving and going to jail, can you imagine anything more ridiculously tragic?”

Mr Zebrowski said it was “selfish” to put the community — people’s families — at risk in that way.

He said O’Kane was extraordinarily lucky to have not caused harm to anyone.

“You have a responsibility as a licence holder to the community not to drive like a lunatic and when police tell you to stop, you stop,” he said.

O’Kane was convicted, fined $2000 and was disqualified from driving for 12 months.