Young landscaper loses licence after shopping centre crash

A young landscape gardener has dug himself into a hole by refusing a breath test after he smashed his car into another vehicle at Pacific Werribee, then fled the scene.

Joshua Balchan pleaded guilty over the incident at Pacific Werribee in June last year.

A young landscape gardener dug himself into a hole when he smashed his car into another vehicle at Pacific Werribee shopping centre — then refused a breath test.

MORE WYNDHAM NEWS

BOOZY SOCCER FAN BUSTED BEHIND THE WHEEL

MAGISTRATE TELLS RUDE KIWI: ‘DON’T CALL ME BRO’

POLITE WAVE SPARKS TRUCKIE ROAD RAGE IN POINT COOK

Werribee Magistrates’ Court heard Joshua Balchan lost control of his Holden station wagon on a roundabout at the centre in June last year, mounting the kerb and crashing into a woman’s car.

Balchan stopped and apologised to the victim, telling her he would be back to exchange details but instead got in his car and fled the scene, the court heard.

Police traced the car to a home in Truganina where the registered owner told them his grandson had been driving the car.

When police arrived at Balchan’s Hoppers Crossing home, he broke down in tears and admitted he had been the driver.

The court heard Balchan had “appeared heavily intoxicated” when police arrived at his home but said he’d only had one and a half bottles of beer since the accident.

Balchan refused to go to the police station for a breath test.

The fourth-year landscaping apprentice told the court he was paying for the damage to the woman’s car in instalments.

Magistrate Richard Pithouse convicted Balchan and fined him $1500 and cancelled his licence for two years.

“Now, don’t compound your problems — do not drive in that time, you will get picked up,” Mr Pithouse said.