Benjamin Sabbatucci: Son of killed mum’s shocking driving rap sheet
A son of a woman killed and dumped on a Frankston freeway has never held a driving licence but continues to get behind the wheel.
South East
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A dodgy driver who has never held a licence told a court his life went off the rails after his mum was choked to death and her body dumped beside a highway.
Benjamin Sabbatucci went on an “ice bender, a bit of a rampage” after discovering his mother had been killed during a consensual sex encounter that had gone wrong and her remains left on the side of Frankston Freeway.
Tony John Smith was convicted of the manslaughter of Karen Rae in 2015, and in 2016 was jailed for 13 years.
Sabbatucci has a shocking traffic history including 10 unlicensed, four disqualified, two careless and one dangerous driving crimes on his rap sheet.
The 29-year-old concreter pleaded guilty to yet another driving while unlicensed charge at the online Frankston Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
The court heard police were patrolling the Lyndhurst area in September 2018 when they came across Sabbatucci driving a car.
When he was pulled over he happily volunteered the fact he didn’t have a licence, and never has had one.
He said he was going to see his girlfriend so needed to drive there.
Representing himself from a prison media room, Sabbatucci said he would do all he could to get a licence when he is released from jail next month.
He is in custody serving a 10-month stretch for breaching a community corrections order.
“My mum was murdered and dumped and I just went on an ice bender, a bit of a rampage,” Sabbatucci said.
“I do have quite a history with methamphetamine, I have got to admit I have quite a colourful past.
“I have come to the realisation now if I don’t keep off drugs I will never be able to get a licence, and I want to get it when I get released next month.”
Magistrate Julian Ayres said even though the offending was a while ago, due to his very poor driving history Sabbatucci must be banned again.
He was convicted and disqualified from applying for any licence for six months.
