Ringwood: Dean Detsis, Christopher Burton, Nilani Pereira face court on driving incidents

A hoon involved in a Doncaster crash and Mooroolbark drink driver were among those who faced the music at Ringwood court.

A string of dangerous drivers accused of various offences faced Ringwood Magistrates’ Court on August 17, 2022. File picture.

A drink driver more than three times over the limit and a woman who hit a tree and rolled her car were among the characters to face the Ringwood Magistrates’ Court on August 18.

DEAN DETSIS

A hoon who crashed into another car in Doncaster at more than 45km/h over the speed limit had to find his own way home from court after he was ordered off the roads.

Dean Detsis, 24, faced dangerous driving and speeding charges after the crash on High St on December 1, 2020.

The court heard Detsis, in a white Nissan Sedan, was driving erratically and skidded for 42m before crashing into a Mazda at 107km/h at about 8am.

The road had a speed limit of 60km/h, and a witness told police they had seen Detsis driving erratically in the bus lane on Doncaster Rd beforehand.

Both cars were written off and Detsis and the female driver of the Mazda were taken to hospital to be treated for minor injuries.

The court heard the Mazda driver experienced headaches and general pain after she left hospital and had to take two weeks off work to recover from the crash.

Detsis told Magistrate Christina Windisch he “wasn’t thinking straight” on the morning of the crash, but said there was no excuse for his behaviour.

He said he missed two prior scheduled court appearances as he had been “moving around a lot” and getting back on his feet.

Ms Windisch told Detsis his driving was “appalling” and it was “lucky you didn’t kill someone or yourself”.

Detsis, who drove to court in his new car, was given an immediate 12-month drivers’ licence suspension, a 12-month good behaviour bond, a $1500 fine, and ordered to complete a safe driving course.

CHRISTOPHER BURTON

Burton, an unemployed former carpenter living with his parents, told the court he was intoxicated and made a bad decision to get behind the wheel of his Toyota HiLux early on March 5 this year.

Officers pulled him over on Lincoln Rd, Mooroolbark, about 12.40am after he was spotted frequently veering over to the other side of the road.

He was breath-tested and recorded a blood alcohol reading of .164, more than three times the legal limit.

The court heard Burton had a prior conviction after he was clocked driving at more than 40km/h over the speed limit back in 2007.

Despite his guilty plea, Ms Windisch cancelled Burton’s driver’s license for a mandatory 16-month period, backdated to March, and convicted and fined him $500.

Unlike Detsis, Burton didn’t have to leave his car behind and organise a ride home, as he had been driven to court by his father.

NILANI PEREIRA

Pereira, a pharmacy worker, pleaded guilty to careless driving after she hit a tree and rolled her car near her Forest Hill home on December 8, 2021.

The court heard Pereira could have fallen asleep at the wheel when the incident occurred about 3.50pm.

She told the court she had been going through a tough time with the death of a family member, and had only had three or four hours’ sleep.

Pereira’s Mitsubishi Sedan landed on its roof, and she was helped out of the car by nearby residents before she walked home.

Police visited her later in the day to confirm her identity, and paramedics took her to hospital to be assessed for lacerations on her forearm.

The court heard Pereira had a prior conviction for driving at more than 25km/h over the speed limit in 2013.

Ms Windisch told Pereira she was going through what was “clearly a very stressful time”, but said she was “lucky to get out with what you did”.

She spared Pereira a conviction and sentenced her to a 12-month good behaviour bond, and told her to “drive safely and get enough sleep in”.