Motocross hoon jailed and banned after wild ride in Frankston

A MAGISTRATE has told a hoon who went berserk on a motocross bike in central Frankston to consider staying off the road for life.

**NB No Byline Please**A man on a motorbike crashed into a taxi on Station St Frankston, after attempting to avoid police wishing to pull him over. He later walked to an awaiting ambulance.

A MAGISTRATE has told a hoon who went berserk on a motocross bike in central Frankston to consider staying off the road for life.

In Frankston Magistrates’ Court today, magistrate Rod Crisp banned Mitchell Green, 43, from driving for seven years and sentenced him to 25 months’ jail for a wild ride on August 27 last year that ended when he crashed into a taxi in busy Young St — captured on camera by News Corp photographer Jason Sammon.

Seconds after the crash.

Green appeared in court via videolink and pleaded guilty to serious traffic charges and refusing to undergo a blood test.

Mr Crisp said Green’s behaviour on the day was “spectacularly life-threatening” and occurred at the “tail end of a long and violent history”.

“It’s to be hoped you may consider not getting a licence at all in the future,” Mr Crisp said.

Prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Andrew Chiodo told the court police initially saw Green hooning on Frankston-Flinders Rd near Towerhill and Golf Links roads, Frankston, shortly after noon.

Stunned onlookers watched in disbelief and police scrambled for safety when Green later raced along busy Young St, opposite Frankston train station, at 1.30pm.

Sen-Constable Chiodo said Green was riding a trail bike “in an erratic and dangerous manner” at speeds of up to 70km/h through traffic that was stopped at lights, and while people were still crossing the road.

Two police officers who tried to wave down Green had to take evasive action, he said.

Green side-swiped a car before crashing into a taxi, rolling on to its roof and then landing on the ground.

Sen-Constable Chiodo said Green verbally abused police and bystanders who went to help him.

A preliminary breath test for alcohol was positive, but Green later refused to provide a blood sample in hospital.

Defence lawyer Kieran Reynolds said his client was on parole when the incidents occurred.

Green was now serving a term for assault and not due for release until January next year, he said.

Mr Reynolds said Green had completed programs in prison including drug treatment and to improve communication skills.

He said Green had no permanent accommodation and was “effectively homeless” when the hooning occurred.

Green’s parole officer was then finding him accommodation nightly at different hotels, Mr Reynolds said.

Mr Reynolds said Green was abusing illicit drugs and prescription medication at the time.

He said his client’s current prison term had been difficult, particularly due to his age.

Green had abstained from drugs while in prison, Mr Reynolds said.

He said hopefully the “penny has dropped” that Green needed to change his ways, but his client’s outlook had to be “viewed on a guarded basis”.

But Mr Crisp noted that Green had a “vast (criminal) history” that indicated he had limited future prospects.

Green’s prison sentence will be served concurrently with his current term.

He was also fined $500.