Sunshine Magistrates Court: Three men plead guilty to traffic offences across Melbourne’s west

A drink driver who admitted to downing a bottle of wine before rolling his car was among those sentenced in Sunshine last week. Read the story.

A disqualified driver who almost collided with a police car and an elderly man with a long history of unlicensed driving were among those who pleaded guilty at Sunshine Court last week.

Read more about their matters here.

Sunshine Magistrates' Court is currently under renovation and works are expected to be complete in August. Picture: Ellen Smith

Lahiru Mudalige

A Taylors Lakes man who drank a bottle of wine before rolling his vehicle admitted to police he was using his phone immediately before crashing the car.

Lahiru Ravishka Dasanayaka Mudalige was sentenced in Sunshine Magistrates’ Court following a late night drink driving incident that resulted in him hitting a tree and becoming temporarily trapped in his vehicle.

Mudalige was driving along Sunshine Av at Taylors Lakes about 11.30pm on July 7 last year when he drifted onto the median strip and lost control of the vehicle before rolling it onto its roof.

The 27-year-old was transported to hospital after making admissions to police he had drunk a bottle of wine after dinner before jumping in the car.

He also admitted to using his phone right before the crash.

Mudalige was fined $700 and suspended from driving for 12 months.

Garry Reynolds

A west melbourne man with Parkinson‘s disease and a “very long history” of unlicensed driving was asked why he shouldn’t go to jail after being caught at the wheel of his neighbour’s car.

Garry Reynolds pleaded guilty in Sunshine Magistrates’ Court to unlicensed driving last week.

Reynolds told the court the only reason he drove was because the designated driver ended up having too many drinks out in the bush.

His daughter, who assisted him via the video link, told the court he was “very sick” with stage two Parkinson‘s disease.

The Magistrate noted Reynolds had a “very long history” of unlicensed driving and asked him why he shouldn‘t sentence him to jail time.

Reynolds said he did not have access to his own car but his neighbour let him use the car because he needed to drive down the road.

He was convicted and fined $500.

A range of matters are heard every weekday at Sunshine Magistrates' Court located on Foundry Rd. Picture: Ellen Smith

Kevin Wright

A disqualified driver who almost collided with a cop car after failing to use his indicator told police he was unaware of the suspension because he had recently moved address.

Before midday on August 24 last year, Kevin Wright was observed by police driving on the Melton Hwy near Plumpton Rd.

After exiting a roundabout and entering the right lane, Wright changed into the left hand without indicating and police were forced to break to avoid colliding with his vehicle.

After being pulled over and questioned, Wright apologised and told police he was unaware his licence was suspended in June because he had moved.

He also believed he was told by VicRoads there was a mistake with how many points he had accumulated and was still able to drive.

Wright was not convicted but was fined $500.