Drunk Frankston teen hoon ‘very ashamed’ after loading up on cocktails, hooning around streets
A Frankston driver was lucky to survive after she was forced to desperately swerve out of the way when a drunk teen hoon came speeding toward her. The unlicensed driver says he’s sorry and will get help for his dangerous addiction.
South East
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An out-of-control teen who loaded up on cocktails before hooning around Frankston has avoided jail.
It comes after Reece Kennedy, 18, was lucky not to kill someone when he reached estimated speeds of up to 100km/h as he drove over speed bumps near Venice Court on Tuesday night.
The Frankston Magistrates Court heard Kennedy, who does not have a driver’s licence, was loaded up on cocktails when he smashed a vase and mirror at a family member’s home and got into a white ute.
A shocked witness was forced to desperately swerve out of Kennedy’s way when he came roaring around the corner on the wrong side of the road.
“(Kennedy) travelled home where the aggressive behaviour continued, punching both sides (of the car) and headlight (and) breaking the indicator,” the prosecution said.
A bloodied Kennedy was unruly with police when they arrived and arrested him, before returning a breath test of 0.103.
Magistrate Vicky Prapas said the teen had “an eventful year”.
Kennedy’s lawyer said her client was “very ashamed” of his actions and was committed to getting help for his alcohol addiction.
She said the ex-Somerville Secondary College student’s alcohol abuse worsened after he lost work as an apprentice plumber, a course which he started in 2016.
“Mr Kennedy is very ashamed about what happened last night … at the age of 18 he thought he’d beaten his demons being drugs alcohol and anger management,” she said on Wednesday.
“(There was) a sense of bravado possibly due to his youth and immaturity that he thought he could go it alone.
“He expressed last night he is extremely grateful that he wasn’t hurt or didn’t hurt innocent road user.
“(He said) ‘I’ve got to get help’.”
Ms Prapas said it was “very lucky” no one was injured as a result of Kennedy’s driving.
“It’s very lucky no one was seriously hurt or killed as a consequence of your behaviour yesterday, your loss of control and complete lack of maturity,” she said.
“At the age of 18 he’s having few and few people he can rely on because people don’t trust him.”
Kennedy pleaded guilty to seven charges including contravening a court order.
He was convicted and ordered to complete a 12 month community corrections order as well as 120 hours of unpaid community work.
brittany.goldsmith@news.com.au
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