Man blames funeral after being nabbed driving without licence for fifth time
A Tootgarook man caught driving his kids to childcare with ice in his system blamed it on a night with mates during which they put drugs in their drinks. Then he blamed a funeral for behind the wheel without a licence — for the fifth time.
South East
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A 40-year-old father who had never held a licence has blamed a funeral for his drug and unlicensed driving.
Daniel Augelli, of Tootgarook, faced Dromana Magistrates’ Court yesterday charged with unlicensed driving and failing an oral fluid test.
The court heard Highway Patrol police nabbed Augelli driving on Curlew Drive in Capel Sound about 8.35am on March 1.
Augelli, a Rosebud Bunnings floor manager, failed a drug test for methamphetamine and police soon discovered he didn’t have a licence either.
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His defence lawyer told the court Augelli’s partner had to go to a funeral so “on short notice” he drove their kids “a very short distance” to a childcare centre.
The lawyer said Augelli tested positive for ice after having friends around the night before, when they had put drugs in their drinks.
He said Augelli, who normally took Ubers or got lifts, was apologetic and hoped to one day obtain a driving licence.
Magistrate Gerard Lethbridge said it was the fifth time Augelli had been nabbed driving without a licence.
“If you drive during this period of disqualification or if you drive again without a licence, I’m going to send you to jail,” Mr Lethbridge said.
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“And the starting point will be three months.”
Augelli was ordered to do 90 hours of unpaid community work, convicted and fined $750, disqualified from driving for 18 months.
A police application to forfeit the car was adjourned.