Bailey Murray: McDonald’s, Red Rooster Berwick hoon crashed into pole

A young hoon who was lucky not to kill someone during a series of idiotic acts behind the wheel has been given a second chance.

Bailey Murray,20, has avoided a conviction after a series of death-defying drives in Berwick. Picture: Facebook

A young hoon who was lucky not to kill someone during a series of idiotic acts behind the wheel has turned his life around, a court has heard.

Bailey Murray, 20, pleaded guilty in the Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on Thursday after a series of shocking incidents including when he accelerated toward police officers, performed burnouts and crashed into a light pole in Berwick.

The court heard officers were forced to jump out of the way when Murray, then 19, sped toward them in a Red Rooster carpark in the pouring rain in April last year.

Murray continued onto Clyde Rd where his Nissan Patrol spun three times on the wet road, just 60m ahead of oncoming traffic.

Officers had instructed the hoon to pull over as he was believed to be involved in an earlier accident, the prosecution said.

The court heard Murray also performed a burnout outside McDonald’s before taking down a light pole in a separate incident about 1.50am.

Murray was also caught driving while suspended at a car wash in February last year.

In an interview Murray, of Cranbourne, admitted his driving was “reckless”.

Lawyer Joshua Bridge said the young concreter, who has no criminal history, had been “acting out of immaturity” to impress others.

Mr Bridge said the former Berwick Secondary College student had since distanced himself from negative influences and was excited to start a new concreting job with his older brothers.

In character references, Murray’s parents and employer described him as “hardworking, generous and devoted to his family.”

“He was clearly susceptible to a degree of peer pressure …(he made some) shocking decisions,” Mr Bridge said.

Magistrate Suzette Dootjes said it was “sheer luck” Murray didn’t kill himself or others during the drives.

“It’s just inexplicable … it’s hard enough for young people driving but when they deliberately engage in behaviour like you did, its concerning for the courts,” Ms Dootjes told Murray.

“You’re a young man with no criminal road priors … you have a lot going for you.”

Murray pleaded guilty to charges including fail to stop on police direction and reckless conduct.

He was on a six-month good behaviour bond and was fined $1500.

No conviction was recorded.