Underbelly star Vince Colosimo pleads guilty to drug-driving as huge unpaid fine bill revealed

A Melbourne court has heard the huge extent of an Australian actor’s unpaid fine bill as he pleaded guilty to driving while on meth.

Vince Colosimo owes more than $65,000 in fines, a court has heard, after the beloved actor avoided jail time for driving while on meth and lying to police last year.

The 55-year-old pleaded guilty to drug driving, driving whilst unlicensed and giving police false details in Melbourne Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

He was pulled over by police on St Kilda Rd in Melbourne in April 2021. Colosimo had methylamphetamine (ice) in his system and his car was impounded on the spot.

The court also heard he gave police a false name Tony “Anthony” Colosimo when he was asked to provide his details.

When officers said they were not satisfied with the name he gave, Colosimo doubled down and said he had a twin brother.

Vince Colosimo was fined $2500. Picture: Julie Kiriacoudis

He eventually identified himself as Vincenzo Colosimo after police continued to raise concerns and threatened to arrest him.

Wednesday was the fourth time the actor had faced court and the second time he had been caught drug driving.

Colosimo was warned the last time he appeared in court in 2017 that a fourth appearance could result in a prison sentence.

But Magistrate Olivia Trumble determined on Wednesday imprisonment was not appropriate despite prior incidents involving “similar offences”.

“My view is though that a term of imprisonment is not appropriate in this situation,” she said.

“My view is that while a somewhat merciful disposition in the circumstances, an aggregate financial penalty is appropriate.”

“Those matters date back to 2017, so they are somewhat aged.

“Whilst you may not be completely there, you are on a particular path to recovery.

“To your credit it seems you’re back on a good path. I accept you are generally remorseful.”

Colosimo in his famous role of Alphonse Gangitano in Underbelly.

He was fined $2500 and was disqualified from driving in Victoria for 16 months.

Colosimo was present at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday in a smart navy suit but remained silent for the majority of the hearing.

His lawyer George Vassis told the court Colosimo was driving at that time so he could visit his mother for Easter and drop off groceries while Melbourne was in Covid lockdown.

He said his client “panicked” when he gave a false name because he knew he was not supposed to be driving while his license was suspended.

Vince Colosimo was going to see his mother was he was pulled over by police in 2021.

Mr Vassis also cited the anxiety Colosimo had experienced from media scrutiny over his previous legal troubles as a contributing factor.

The court also heard the actor currently has 169 outstanding penalties with Fines Victoria totalling $65,215.

Magistrate Trumble said Colosimo needed to take his “head out of the sand” and deal with them.

“They will not go away and Fines Victoria will eventually catch up with you ... there will be consequences,” she said.

Mr Vassis had earlier assured the court his client had the “capacity” to pay any financial penalty if he was issued one.

Colosimo’s licence was cancelled in 2017 and he had not applied for a new one at the time of the incident in 2021. Mr Vassis said his client had not given the matter the “priority” he should have, citing the actor’s busy work and family life.

Vince Colosimo on the red carpet at Palais Theatre, St Kilda for the Wog Boys Forever movie premiere. Picture: Josie Hayden

Colosimo rose to fame for his role as gangland figure Alphonse Gangitano in the hit TV series Underbelly.

He also rubbed shoulders with the likes of Russell Crowe and Leonardo DiCaprio in Body of Lies, and Tobey Maguire and DiCaprio again in The Great Gatsby.

He recently graced the red carpet at the Sydney and Melbourne premieres of Wog Boys Forever.

Colosimo is one of the main stars of the film, which only debuted in cinemas less than two weeks ago.