Luka Khattab, Anthony Andrews, John Russel and more: Moorabbin’s dangerous drivers

A motorist has blamed going through a red light on his car “blowing up” in an attempt to explain away bad driving, as he joins the latest dodgy drivers to face court.

A string of bad drivers have made their way through Moorabbin Court’s doors on May 19.

It’s been another busy week for idiot drivers at Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court, with suspended drivers, dangerous motorists, and red light skippers all being hauled in for justice.

Luka Khattab

A suspended driver busted behind the wheel told cops he was “just going to see his dad”.

Luka Khattab, 22, pleaded guilty in the Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court on May 19 to one charge of driving while suspended.

Khattab was nabbed by cops on December 15 last year in Oakleigh East, driving with a suspended licence.

Just 10 days prior to his suspension being lifted, Khattab told cops he was “just going to see his dad”.

His car was impounded for 30 days from the scene costing him $999.

In court on Monday, Khattab told Magistrate Jan Maclean that he had assisted in the care of his younger siblings — “often taking them to school and other activities” — after his parents separated.

Ms Maclean fined Khattab $750 without conviction and did not take away his licence.

A landscaper has told a court his “car blew up” right before he ran a red light.

Anthony Andrews

A part-time landscaper and part-time delivery driver’s “panic” has left him out of pocket after running a red light on his way to a gardening job.

Anthony Andrews pleaded guilty in the Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court on May 19 after being caught by a red light camera.

The court heard Andrews had been on his way to a lawn-mowing job in Seaford when he went through a red light on the Frankston Freeway 0.9 seconds after the light had turned red.

On Monday, Andrews told Magistrate Jan Maclean his car had “blown up” immediately prior to him going through the red light.

“When I was coming off the freeway, my car blew up — a head gasket,” he said.

“I had steam and everything coming out, I was panicking.”

Andrews said he continued through the intersection to “cause less disruption on the road”.

Ms Maclean ordered Andrews to pay a $300 fine without conviction, and made no order on his licence.

A man has failed to properly check the road and hit a motorcyclist in Mt Waverley.

Dimitri Ballas

A driver who hit a motorbike rider outside a Mt Waverley service station has skipped court.

Dimitri Ballas failed to front the Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court on Monday on a charge of careless driving.

The court heard Ballas was exiting a Mt Waverley BP petrol station last year when he didn’t check both ways.

Ballas was in a blue Holden Commodore when he exited the Waverley Rd servo and collided with a motorbike rider.

At the scene, he told police he “thought he was clear to go”.

The motorbike rider was taken to hospital by ambulance with minor injuries while Ballas’ car was left with minor damage.

Magistrate Jan Maclean heard the matter ex-parte and fined Ballas $337 without conviction.

Cops nabbed a speeding driver twice in a week on his way home from work.

Timothy Lotus

A Monash Medical asset manager has blamed fatigue for his speedy habit.

Timothy Lotus pleaded guilty in the Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court on Monday to two speeding charges after being busted over the limit twice in two weeks.

The court heard Lotus had been snapped by speed cameras on August 30 in Oakleigh and on September 6 in Clayton last year.

On the first occasion, Lotus was caught driving 57km/h in a 50km/h zone, and again in September, doing 60km/h in a 50km/h zone.

On Monday, he told the court on both occasions he had been “driving home from work”.

“Both times happened at the end of the day, when I’m the most fatigued,” he said.

“I wasn’t actively speeding, I was momentarily over.”

Lotus said on the second occasion, the part of the road he was on rapidly decreased from 80km/h to 50km/h zone.

“It wasn’t until I looked (at the speedometer) that I realised I was over.”

Magistrate Jan Maclean ordered Lotus to pay $300 without conviction.

A self-employed builder has had a lucky day in court, avoiding both a fine and conviction after going through two red lights.

John Russell

A repeat red-light skipper has escaped a fine and conviction in a lucky day at court.

John Russell pleaded guilty to two counts of going through a red light on May 19, after being snapped twice in four days.

The court heard Russell went through his first red light on August 10 last year on Dandenong Rd, 0.5 seconds after the light turned red.

Just four days later, on August 14, he went through another red light on High St in Glen Iris 0.7 seconds after it changed.

On Monday, Russell pleaded with Magistrate Jan Maclean to not suspend his licence.

The self-employed builder said he “needed his licence for work” and to look after his three sons.

“My wife left me eight months ago, and my sons are with me all the time,” he said.

Ms Maclean put Russell on a six-month good behaviour bond without conviction and dismissed the original fines.