Revealed: Northern Melbourne’s most reckless drivers from Broadmeadows Magistrates'’ Court 2024
Broadmeadows’ bad drivers have been hauled into court this year, exposing the region’s most reckless road offenders.
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Broadmeadows’ bad drivers have faced the music in court this year, with a line-up of reckless offenders exposed for hooning, drink-driving and repeat traffic violations.
Here are some of the worst drivers to front Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court in 2024.
NDIS worker’s “suicidal” hooning
A young support worker clocked doing 160km/h on his way to the gym has narrowly escaped going to jail for his “suicidal behaviour”.
Febin Francis Manappatu, 22, appeared in Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court in October this year, where he pleaded guilty speeding and driving without his rear “p” plate displayed.
In April 2023, Manappatu was caught doing 120km/h in a 50km/h zone at a roadabout in West St in Hadfield.
The NDIS support worker then zoomed through Edgars Rd in Thomastown, doing 160km/h in a 100km/h zone.
Manappatu’s lawyer said his client’s speeding was a “lapse in Judgement”, and he was “vulnerable” because of his mental health.
But Magistrate John Hardy said it was impossible Manappatu did not know he was “flying past” vehicles.
Manappatu was convicted, fined $1750, had his licence cancelled and disqualified for 15 months.
Melbourne priest learns police’s top commandments
A South Melbourne priest pulled over on his way to church discovered one of the police’s top commandments — thou shalt not drive on a suspended licence.
Kosmas Zisis, 49, pleaded guilty to driving while suspended at the Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court in May this year.
In March 2023, police noticed Zisis driving his Ford Falcon on the Western Ring Rd in Glenroy.
After checking his number plate, police found Zisis’ licence had been suspended for three months after an accumulation of demerit points, impounding his car for 30 days.
When asked why he was driving while suspended, the priest told police he was on his way to church.
Magistrate David Langton said there was “no honest or reasonable answer” as to why Zisis was driving while suspended.
Zisis was fined $1000 without a conviction recorded.
Primary schoolteacher gets a crash course in road rules — straight from the courtroom
A primary school teacher argued she shouldn’t lose her licence despite speeding at 123km/h because she nwas “scared” of using public transport.
Lamia Abdo, 21, fronted Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court in April this year via a video link, where she pleaded guilty to speeding and driving while disqualified.
In January 2023, Abdo was pulled over after she was detected driving at 123km/h on Pascoe Vale Rd in Jacana.
Further inquiries revealed Abdo, who lives in Altona, was disqualified from driving for 12 months from November 2021.
Abdo’s defence lawyer, Younis Yehia, told the court his client had a “lapse in judgment” and asked the court for leniency to avoid a licence loss because of her fear of using public transport.
However, Magistrate Jonathan Klestadt said leniency was “absolutely out of the question”.
Mr Klestadt told Abdo she was “just like the rest of us” and must obey the law.
Abdo was convicted and fined $1750, with her licence suspended for nine months.
Tradie dad-to-be goes full-throttle with burnout right in front of a cop
A soon-to-be-father and tradie performed a “beyond silly” burnouts outside a house in the northern suburbs in front of witnesses including a Victoria Police inspector.
Jamie Semmens, 37, pleaded guilty to one count of driving a vehicle causing loss of traction at the Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court in October this year, where he appeared with his eight-month pregnant partner.
In December 2023, Semmens, who is a painter by trade, was driving a grey Holden Commodore while leaving a house on Bulla Rd, Bula. As he left the driveway, he did a burnout, with smoke drifting across the road — all seen by a neighbour and the police officer.
Semmens’ defence lawyer told the court his client said the burnout “was a silly thing to do”.
Magistrate John Hardy questioned why a soon-to-be-dad performed a burnout, and that it was “beyond silly”.
“What was going between his ears and behind his eyes?” he said.
Semmens was convicted, fined $1500, and his license was suspended for 28 days, effective immediately.
Psychologist’s sobering reminder: Don’t mix drinks with driving
A Melbourne psychologist who previously worked for the Department of Justice was told to watch her drinks before getting behind the wheel.
Androulla Koukoulis, 37, fronted Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court in April this year, where she pleaded guilty to drunk driving.
In August last year, Koukoulis, who also works as a child psychologist, was driving a silver Hyundai Tucson when she entered a booze testing station on Keilor Park Dr in Keilor East, where officers detected alcohol on her breath.
Further breath testing revealed Koukoulis had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.128, and her licence was immediately suspended.
Magistrate Adriano Serratore told Koukoulis she had to monitor the amount of alcohol she consumed before behind the wheel.
Koukoulis was released on a good behaviour undertaking without conviction, ordered to donate $400 to the court fund and had her licence suspended for one year.
Disqualified driver and landscaper digs himself deeper
A Melbourne landscaper was warned he could be jailed the next time he jumped behind the wheel disqualified after he was busted on his way to his girlfriend’s place.
Ferhat Tekin, 24, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified at the Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court in August this year.
In December 2023, police caught Tekin driving his Holden Commodore despite a magistrate having disqualified his licence months earlier.
When questioned, Tekin told police he was going to see his girlfriend before his Commodore was impounded.
Magistrate John Doherty told the 24-year-old’s blatant disregard for his disqualification from driving was “serious business”.
Tekin was convicted, fined $750 and his license was further suspended for three months.
Boozy bank worker’s happy hour ends in three-car pileup
A boozy bank worker caused a three-vehicle collision after getting behind the wheel drunk after a drinking session with workmates.
Alexis Toomey, 30, fronted the Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court in June this year, where she pleaded guilty to drunk driving and failing to keep left of the dividing line.
In October 2023, Toomey, who has worked in a Melbourne bank for the past eight years, grabbed after work drinks with her colleagues.
The finance girl then drove on Albion St in Brunswick West, colliding with a car on the road, which hit another parked car, causing a three-vehicle crash.
Toomey’s defence lawyer told the court his client’s offending was “out of character”.
Magistrate Michael Smith fined Toomey $1200 without conviction and cancelled and disqualified her licence for 12 months, backdated to October last year.
Teen hoon hits 190km/h, blames missing P-plates on sun
A teen hoon who was busted doing twice the speed limit — 190km/h — with his mates in his car told police he couldn’t display his P-plates because “they melted in the sun”.
Peter Ghebrial, 19, appeared in Broadmeadows Magistrates Court wearing a navy blue suit in June this year where he pleaded guilty to driving at a dangerous speed, exceeding the 100km/h speed limit sign by 45km/h, and driving without displaying front and back P-plates.
In May 2923, the then 18-year-old was driving south on the Ring Rd in Keilor when a camera clocked him doing 152km/h in a 100km/h zone.
Just a month later, the air wing clocked the young speedster doing an estimated 190km/h on the Ring Rd in Thomastown.
Police finally pulled the university student over in South Morang, where they discovered the 19-year-old held a probationary licence and was breaching its condition by having three mates as passengers while also not displaying his P plates.
When asked why he had friends in the car, the teen said he was “Just dropping them home”.
He also claimed he was not displaying his P plates because his brother “left the plates in the sun and it melted”.
Ghebrial’s defence lawyer Mohamed Chaarani said his client was “scared” to be in court, but his mum and brother were supporting him.
Magistrate Michael Smith fined Ghebrial $1200 with no conviction recorded and suspended his licence for 12 months.
Tradie wrecks mum’s car, left with a $20K ‘opps’
A tradie has totalled his mum’s car after he crashed into a power pole after hitting another car.
Labourer Matthew Ranno, 31, fronted the Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court in June this year, where he pleaded guilty to careless driving, breaching the alcohol interlock condition, and driving without a front P plate.
In February 2023, Ranno was driving his mum’s red sedan when he drifted and hit another car.
A while later, Ranno drove his mum’s car into an electricity pole, causing the vehicle to flip upside down. Ranno then removed himself from the wreck.
After checking his driver’s licence, police found that Ranno had a probationary licence, which required him to have an interlock in his car.
Police also discovered the car was not displaying P plates and found the vehicle unroadworthy.
Magistrate Michael Smith told Ranno he needed “to be careful”.
He was convicted and fined $1250 with no further order made on his licence.
West Preston signals finals ambition
31 for 31: After two seasons without finals, West Preston-Lakeside is eyeing a return to the top-five after bolstering its squad with several impressive recruits.
Parents fear tragedy as crashes pile up on ‘racetrack’ road
Northern suburbs parents have challenged authorities to send their own children along a “terrifying” road, saying only then will they understand the dangers they face.