Darwin street racer’s mum ‘forced him to sell car’ following bust, court

The mother of a young hoon driver has ordered him to sell his car after he was busted participating in an illegal street race earlier this year, a court has heard.

THE mother of a young hoon driver has ordered him to sell his car after he was busted participating in an illegal street race on Tiger Brenna Dr earlier this year, a court has heard.

Joshua Lucas Mitchell, 22, pleaded guilty in the Darwin Local Court to racing on a public street, speeding and drug driving after he blew past a police speed trap at 143km/h on June 11.

The court heard officers spotted Mitchell driving his white Holden SS ute near the intersection with Amy Johnston Ave and racing with another car “as they moved back and forth in front of (each) other by only a vehicle length or less” shortly before 11pm.

When stopped by police, Mitchell told them he was “just cruising” before returning a positive cannabis test and admitting he had been smoking the drug several days earlier.

His vehicle was seized and prosecutor Laura Payne said police were seeking a permanent forfeiture order from the court before Mitchell explained that wouldn’t be necessary.

“I’m very ashamed of myself,” he said.

“My mother made me sell the car.”

In handing Mitchell a total of $1400 in fines and banning him from the road for three months, judge Michael Carey said his driving on the night was “extremely dangerous in the circumstances”.

“You’re an idiot, you know Mr Mitchell?” he said.

“I see you had a drug driving case eight months prior and here you are again and racing.”

Later the same day, another 22-year-old man also fronted up to face Mr Carey charged with similar offending.

Thomas Ramage pleaded guilty to participating in an illegal street race and speeding after being caught by the same speed trap earlier on the same night as Mitchell.

The court heard Ramage hit speeds of up to 166km/h in his silver Nissan Skyline with a 16-year-old girl in the passenger seat before he too was pulled over at about 10.15pm.

His lawyer, Karina Curry-Hyde, told the court her client felt “significant remorse and regret” for his behaviour on the night and now expected to lose his job as a delivery driver.

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“Mr Ramage has said that he’s got no excuses in relation to this, he did get carried away at the time, he was with a group of friends,” she explained.

“He is a young person and this is his first time before the court and this will certainly be a lesson for him, especially in relation to his use of motor vehicles and his actions on the road.”

In fining Ramage $1000 and disqualifying him from driving for six months, Mr Carey noted it was “the second one of these cases we’ve had today”.

“You were sitting there before when I dealt with the other young man for racing on Tiger Brennan Dr,” he said.

“I’ve got no doubt that neither of you was qualified to do so and you’re probably very fortunate nothing worse happened.”

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