CBD rampage driver bags plea deal

The most recent driver accused of going on a CBD rampage has negotiated for all but one charge to be dropped in a plea deal done just nine days after he was allegedly inspired by the Bourke St massacre.

A man allegedly inspired by the Bourke St massacre when he went on a CBD car rampage has negotiated for all but one charge to be dropped in a plea deal just nine days later.

Blayze Pemberton-Burden, 26, faced Melbourne Magistrates Court today after being charged with five offences over his dangerous driving antics along Flinders St on February 5.

The IT consultant allegedly left pedestrians fearing for their lives when he stood on the roof of his car at the Flinders and Swanston St junction and shouted “No-one can stop me” at 1.50pm.

He then got back in his car, did burnouts, and ran a red light where pedestrians were crossing.

After failing to convince a magistrate to free him in a bizarre bail application before the court last week, Mr Pemberton-Burden had planned to make a second bid for release today.

But the court heard discussions between his legal team and the prosecution had resulted in an acceptance of a plea to a new charge of reckless conduct endangering serious injury.

Blayze Pemberton-Burden was allegedly captured ranting and waving his arms at people while standing on the roof of a silver car on the corner of Flinders and Elizabeth streets

The original charges including reckless conduct endangering life, dangerous driving, careless driving and driving in a manner that caused the tyres to lose traction would be struck out, the court heard.

Mr Pemberton-Burden sat quietly in the dock as his lawyer spoke on his behalf, only later asking if he could address the magistrate about the “misconceptions that have been floating around about me”, which she declined.

It comes after his first court appearance last week where he had no legal representation and his outbursts sparked warnings by the magistrate if he could not be quiet he would adjourn his case and send him back to the cells.

On that occasion, when the prosecutor said bail was opposed, Mr Pemberton-Burden shouted: “Bail’s accepted motherf-----!”

He also constantly shouted “Yes, sir!” to the magistrate, who refused bail saying the accused was too much of a risk to the public after hearing how he had allegedly told police on his arrest he was “proud of his actions” and got his “tactics” from Bourke St killer James Gargasoulas.

Posts on his Twitter profile in the days leading up to the incident including “I don’t come for peace, I come for war” and “I’ll make Tiananmen Square look like child’s play” were also concerning, Mr McKenna said.

The court heard he had no prior criminal history but that he had shown deteriorating mental health since he was suspended from his IT consultancy job in November.

His lawyer today said Mr Pemberton-Burden had engaged a psychiatrist and that a psych report would be prepared for his plea hearing.

Mr Pemberton-Burden was remanded to return to court on March 10.