Jail time cut, no licence restrictions for violent thug dubbed one of Dandenong’s ‘worst drivers’
One of the “worst drivers” Dandenong police officers say they’ve ever seen could be back behind the wheel by the end of the year following an appeal in the County Court. And he will also sleep in his own bed sooner after his jail time was slashed.
South East
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A serial hoon who was dubbed as one of Dandenong’s “worst drivers” has had his jail sentence slashed and could be back on the roads in a matter of months.
Brett Mehana, also known as Brett Andre Mei, will spend five months behind bars instead of six after a successful appeal in the County Court on Thursday, August 27.
There were no restrictions made on him obtaining a driver’s licence in the future.
It comes after he was jailed for six months in May for a series of driving and breach crimes, including when he was caught behind the wheel have been banned 13 times.
And while on bail after launching an appeal of the length of the term, the 32-year-old went on a rampage at his ex-partner’s house, kicking down her door in a fit of anger on August 3.
Between August 31 and November 19 last year, he was caught driving without a licence in an unregistered car and bearing novelty number plates.
Mehana hasn’t held a licence since he lost it for drink driving in 2013.
On August 25 Mehana’s lawyer said her client, who used to abuse a cocktail of 7g of ice plus GHB every day, had isolated his drug use to a “small amount” of cannabis since mid last year.
She said his offending as an adult was sparked in 2015 as a result of losing his mother and becoming separated from his wife and mother of his four children.
“He became a father at a very young age … he’s in a position now where he has decreased his drug use which has placed him in a position where he is more receptive to engage in a community corrections order,” she said.
During Mehana’s appeal on Thursday Judge Claire Quin said she wanted to “make sure” he wanted to commit to a community corrections order when he was released.
“It’s something I want to make sure your client wants to do, I don’t really want to come back and breach him on the order,” Ms Quin told Mehana’s lawyer.
“But the community corrections order is consistent with him saying he wants to make some changes, and it will help him.”
Mehana’s sentence was reduced to five months and will be followed by a six-month community corrections order.
brittany.goldsmith@news.com.au
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