Angry drunk driver upset over custody issues did burnouts in his wedding Mustang to rile neighbour
An angry Carrum Downs drunk has taken out his frustrations on his neighbour, police — and the tyres of a prized 1965 Ford Mustang he used as a wedding car hire sideline.
South East
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An angry, alcohol-fuelled “middle-aged hoon” did burnouts in front of his neighbour’s unit in his wedding car as a “symbolic gesture” because he had “let his feelings get away from him”, a court has heard.
Robert George Sarec pleaded guilty at Frankston Magistrates’ Court last Thursday to drink-driving, careless driving, resisting arrest, failing to give his details and using threatening words on March 1.
The 44-year-old carpenter was wound up after a dispute over a custody issue, so got a mate to give him a lift to a pub to knock back a few beers.
After sinking a few ales he then did the right thing and got an Uber back to his Carrum Downs home.
But, instead of going inside for a nap, Sarec started up his 1965 Ford Mustang — a classic car he uses for weddings — and did multiple burnouts, smoking up and screeching the tyres until his neighbour came out to see what was going on.
Sarec confronted the neighbour, threatening to “knock his block off”, and police were called.
He resisted arrest, refusing to give police his name and address, until he was handcuffed, put in the back of a divvy van and taken to a cell to sober up.
He registered a blood alcohol reading of .102 and his precious ride was impounded for 30 days under hoon legislation.
The keen mechanic’s lawyer said his client’s behaviour was out of character and “clearly the grog talking”.
The lawyer said Sarec’s driving was a “symbolic gesture” aimed at riling his neighbour because he was unhappy and he had “let his feeling get away from him” when he refused to co-operate with police.
He said his client would do a driving ban especially hard because he would have to give up his car hire sideline.
“He could hardly drive a wedding car with an interlock device fitted,” the lawyer said.
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Magistrate Julian Ayres said he understood Sarec had been upset but his actions were unacceptable.
“Normally this type of behaviour is done by teenage hoons; you didn’t think you would be considered a middle-aged hoon, but you are,” Mr Ayres said.
“You were double the (alcohol) limit, and doing this in a residential area with kids about.
“You have to deal with your issues in a civilised way, and in a way that is legal.”
Sarec was fined $2000 and disqualified from driving for 12 months, backdated to March, and must do a road trauma awareness course. No conviction was recorded.