A woman who pleaded guilty to running a red light had an unusual excuse for doing so
A woman pinged driving through a red light at a busy Frankston junction offered up an unusual defence when she fought her $400 fine in court. Plus more from the courts in Melbourne’s southeast.
South East
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Wary of wayward drunks
A woman who pleaded guilty to running a red light said she did so because she was wary of staggering drunks trying to cross a Frankston road.
The 69-year-old retired Frankston nurse, who had never got a ticket in more than half a century of driving, was pinged 1.1 seconds late going into the Nepean Highway and Davey St intersection in April last year.
She took the $400-plus fine to court, saying she was driving slowly so as to not knock over any hotel patrons who may have had a few too many staggering across the road.
That intersection has a pub on each of its four corners.
The driver told the court she had a clean driving record dating back 51 years, and she would not be repeating this “error of judgment”.
The magistrate said it was very rare that someone would come to court with such a long, clean record. Her case was dismissed but her points will still stand as they are imposed by VicRoads and not the courts.
Son bashes, steals from dad
A son who punched his dad, leaving him in agonising pain on the ground, has been freed from custody after serving five days in jail.
The 28-year-old attacked his 66-year-old dad at their Dandenong home on October 11 last year.
He punched him to the head, causing him to fall over onto his back and yelled at him “get up you weak bastard” before leaving him there for 15 minutes.
The man was later taken to hospital with bruising to his back and arm and wrist.
While in hospital the son stole the dad’s bank card, using it to spend $244 at hotels, at Aldi and on taxis.
He was bailed and ordered to leave the house and stay away.
But on January 25 this year he was found at the home by police and remanded. He pleaded guilty to recklessly cause injury and theft charges, as well as some driving matters, with his lawyer saying drug abuse was an issue in his offending.
He was released on time served and will be assessed for a community corrections order.
It wasn’t me
A careless driver nabbed on CCTV reversing into a parked car and leaving the scene. told police it wasn’t him driving.
However, officers had vision of the incident and saw him getting out of his ute and inspecting the damage on the other vehicle before fleeing the scene.
The court heard, a woman had dropped off her car at a friend’s place in Dandenong on September 28 last year, parking it outside her mate’s home. The next day when she picked it up she noticed there was damage to the front bumper.
She asked her friend if there was CCTV and it showed the driver backing into her vehicle and driving off.
When police became involved the man initially denied anything had happened, and then when shown the vision, said it wasn’t him but was his housemate.
In court he represented himself admitting careless driving, failing to report an accident and failing to stop. He said he didn’t think there was any damage so didn’t believe he had to report it.
The magistrate issued a fine of $1200.
Highway hoon
An Audi mechanic caught skidding from a service road into a highway has learnt hooning doesn’t pay, with his sideways move costing him close to $2000 and a day in court.
The 21-year-old wasn’t very discreet when he pulled the move on the Princes Highway, Officer on November last year as two police officers were parked up directly across the road, watching as he skidded sideways for 20m.
They stopped the Toyota Hilux and impounded it for 30 days. In court the driver’s lawyer said the P-plater, who gets his full licence next month, would be sacked if he was suspended from driving as he needed to test-drive Audis at work.
He said this was his only ever indiscretion, and while the road being wet was not an excuse for losing traction, it could have been a contributing factor.
The man has already paid more than $900 to get his car back from the impound yard and will have to shell out another $900 for a road safety course.
He was given a six-month good behaviour bond with no conviction recorded.
Partner assault
A man threw a tub of butter at his partner as she breastfed their daughter in a fit of rage over money.
The court heard the Oakleigh labourer was home with his girlfriend about 10pm on December 13 last year. They began arguing over finances and he forcefully grasped her by the arm, causing it to bruise.
The next day she was breastfeeding the baby when he again started a verbal dispute over money and threw a tub of margarine at her, hitting her on her hip.
The woman went to police and reported the two unlawful assaults. The man was arrested but denied assaulting her, saying there were “raised voices” but that was it.
In court he said it was no excuse but he believed she threw the tub at him first and he retaliated.
He said he had been to counselling since and apologised to the woman, who he is now estranged from.
The magistrate said courts have zero tolerance for family violence and warned him if it happened again there would be far more serious consequences.
He was given a two-year good behaviour bond, must do a men’s program and pay $300 to the court fund. No conviction was recorded.
Dromana drama
An alleged cop-biter, who police also believe bashed a neighbour at their campsite home, has been granted bail.
The 58-year-old grandmother was arrested on January 27 for allegedly breaching bail and trespassing at the Dromana foreshore site.
She successfully applied for bail on January 28 after one day behind bars, and was released back into the community.
The court heard the woman allegedly punched and kicked her neighbour and in a separate incident fought and bit police after they tried to arrest her partner.
She behaved erratically during the bail application, rambling and continually interrupting proceedings.
On one occasion when the police prosecutor walked to the dock to give her some paperwork, she said “I won’t bite” and then imitated a snapping and snarling dog.
The magistrate said there were issues with the charges over trespass and bail breaches, she had very limited priors and in any event if she was found guilty of all her charges, she may not be jailed for longer than her next court date. She was released on strict bail conditions to face court again on February 13.
Birthday food theft
A doting, but poor mum has been caught trying to steal food to make a special meal for her son’s birthday.
The 54-year-old disability support pensioner went into Coles in Bayside Shopping Centre in Frankston on June 27 last year, filling her trolley.
She hid some items in cooler bags before going to the self-serve checkout and purchasing other products.
She then walked away, but she had been seen and was picked up by a supermarket security guard.
The $51 worth of stolen food was returned. She told the court that she was in an emotional state at the time and when she checked her bank balance, she realised she couldn’t afford to buy all that she needed.
She said she had behaved impulsively and it wouldn’t happen again. She was fined $50, with no conviction recorded.