A self-incriminating tattoo, a spooked P-plater, nice-sounding exhaust among cases at Dromana
A tattooed tree-lopping shoplifter, a “spooked” P-plater and a biker who blasted through a tunnel to hear his exhaust were some of the more unusual cases heard at Dromana Magistrates’ Court.
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Tunnel vision
A biker has blamed wanting to hear his ride’s beautifully-sounding exhaust as he rode through a tunnel as the reason he was doing more than 30km/h over the limit. The 56-year-old was nabbed by cops doing 92km/h in the 60km/h zone on Marine Drive in Safety Beach on July 6 this year. He was given a $537 on-the-spot fine and a three-month ban, but opted to go to court to have his case heard. He told officers the reason for the speeding was he was “just listening to the exhaust” on his motorbike as it went through the tunnel. He represented himself in court, saying he “didn’t drink, don’t do drugs”, had a clean 40-year driving history and was ashamed about his actions. The building supplies worker said it was “very silly of me” and he only wanted to hear the “pleasant sound” of the exhaust in the “echo chamber” of the tunnel. The magistrate said even though he had no priors, did good volunteer work and accepted this was out of character, he had no choice but to impose the mandatory three-month suspension. No conviction was recorded and no fine imposed.
Up to her neck in crime
A distinctive neck tattoo has led to the downfall of a drug-fuelled Dromana shoplifter involved in a bizarre theft. The ice-addled 29-year-old thief and two mates went to the Dromana Aldi store on November 25 last year and filled two bags full of goods and then picked up a tree lopper before walking out the door. Staff saw them and gave chase, managing to get the goods back, but not get hold of the thieves. The woman got into the passenger side of a car and gave workers the bird as the vehicle drove off, but she had been seen on CCTV. Police immediately knew who she was due to her very identifiable neck tattoo, and she was arrested. Her lawyer told the court the woman could not recollect the event because she was on drugs at the time, but she was now clean. The magistrate said it was a bizarre, pointless theft of a tree lopper, of all things, and he was hopeful her support and recent clean drug screens were markers of a brighter future. She was placed on a good behaviour bond.
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Spooked speedster pays a high price
A self-confessed “idiot” P-plater who had only had his licence for five months has been banned from the road for 18 months for dangerous driving. The 19-year-old sped up to 160km/h on Peninsula Link in Dromana on June 9 this year, weaving in and out of traffic. Police followed in their unmarked car as the teenager undertook and overtook cars at speeds of between 120km/h and 160km/h in the 100km/h zone, before activating their lights and pulling him over at the Jetty Rd turn-off. He told officers he had “got spooked” by the car following him and tried to get away, and had got “faster and faster”. In court the plumbing apprentice represented himself, saying he was “being an idiot” and had now sold the car. The magistrate said the combination of speed, his inexperience and weaving were extremely dangerous factors. He was convicted, placed on an 18-month good behaviour bond, must pay $1000 to the court fund and do a road trauma awareness seminar, as well as serve the 18-month ban.