Named and shamed: A list of the NT’s worst leadfoots

FROM a motorcyclist who racked up more than $10,000 in fines from traffic offences, to an unlicensed driver who led police on a high-speed pursuit while drinking beer – these are the worst leadfoots in the Territory. Find out who is on the list

Reece Tjung, pictured riding a motorbike and inset, was busted speeding at 175km/h. Pictures: Facebook

FROM a motorcyclist who racked up more than $10,000 in fines from traffic offences, to an unlicensed driver who led police on a high-speed pursuit while drinking beer – these are the worst leadfoots in the Territory.

REECE TAYLOR TJUNG: MOTORCYCLIST RACKS UP MORE THAN $10,000 IN FINES AFTER REPEATED TRAFFIC OFFENCES

DARWIN motorcycle racer, Reece Taylor Tjung, who was banned from the road after being clocked at 175km/h in a 100km/h zone managed to rack up more than $10,000 in fines after misunderstanding the length of his disqualification.

Tjiung had his licence suspended for three months in May 2018 after reaching the “horrifying” speed on the Stuart Hwy following an event at the Hidden Valley racetrack.

He then returned to court and received thousands of fines in July 2019 after being caught twice in the previous months riding unlicensed, unregistered and uninsured.

But unfortunately for him, it all could have been avoided as he was eligible to go and get his licence back almost a year before, but thought he was still disqualified.

“I thought it was six months that’s the only reason I haven’t gone back to get it,” he told Judge Tanya Fong Lim.

By the end of the ordeal, Judge Fong Lim ordered Tjung to pay a total of almost $1500 in fines on top of his earlier fines.

Reece Tjung, pictured riding a motorbike, was busted speeding at 175km/h. Picture: Facebook

AMAZING NT News subscription offer: Only $1 for first 28 days

BENCE SZABO: KEPT HIS LICENCE AFTER BEING CAUGHT SPEEDING AWAY FROM POLICE AT MORE THAN 200km/h

WHEN Bence Szabo was allowed to keep his licence despite speeding past three police cars and through a red light at a speed of up to 215 km/h, Attorney-General Natasha Fyles was so concerned that she asked her department to review police pursuit laws.

Szabo – who is the son of Royal Darwin Hospital haematology director Ferenc Szabo – was jailed for two months in July after pleading guilty in the Supreme Court to dangerous driving and conduct endangering life in August 2018.

However, in sentencing him, Justice Judith Kelly exercised her discretion in allowing Szabo back on the road upon his release so he could keep his job.

But that decision drew criticism from Police Association president Paul McCue, who said “a person convicted of such an offence ought to have given up that right to hold their licence, regardless if they need it for employment or not”.

Ms Fyles said the Territory Government “considers the safety of the public as paramount”.

“Drivers caught doing 45km/h or more over the speed limit have their licence automatically disqualified,” she said.

“Given community expectations to public safety, I have directed the Department of Attorney-General to provide advice on legislation pertaining to dangerous driving while evading police.

AVERY BONSON: LED POLICE ON A HIGH-SPEED CHASE WHILE DRINKING BEER

AVERY Bonson served three months behind bars after leading police on a chase, travelling at speeds of up to 202km/h, along the Arnhem Highway before crashing in December 2017.

The court heard that Bonson, who had never held a licence, was “literally drinking while he was driving” and returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.065 when he was eventually pulled over.

He pleaded guilty to one count of dangerous driving, one count of drink-driving, and one count of driving unlicensed.

Bonson’s lawyer Patrick Coleridge said the booze in his client’s system was not a major contributor to the crash and that Bonson “panicked” when he saw police.

In sentencing Bonson, Judge Greg Macdonald said it was fortunate none of the vehicle’s occupants or any member of the public were killed, but that Bonson had some prospects for rehabilitation.

“What you did on that day was very stupid and I hope you never do it again,” he said.

“You’re lucky that light scrub stopped you and not a rock or a tree.”

SEBASTIAN PADOVAN: MOTORCYCLIST CLOCKED GOING MORE THAN 90km/h OVER THE SPEED LIMIT TOLD COPS HE ‘HAD A SHIT DAY’

CALL centre worker Sebastian Padovan got off with a fine and a three-month suspension on his licence after he was clocked riding his motorbike 191km/h in a 100km/h zone in January 2020.

The 24-year-old represented himself in Darwin Local Court and pleaded guilty to driving at a dangerous speed exceeding 45km/h over the speed limit.

According to the statement of agreed facts, tendered in court, when asked by police why Padovan was speeding he replied: “Not really an excuse – shit day at work, just wanted to go home.”

He told Chief Judge Elizabeth Morris in court that he had a stressful shift at his job in a call centre, and that “the only way I knew how to relieve that stress was to speed on a motorcycle.”

Ms Morris said Padovan was lucky that he was the only one riding on the road at that time.

“In this particular occasion you didn’t jeopardise anyone but yourself,” she said.

“You will not survive any kind of crash going 191 on Darwin roads.”

Padovan was convicted and ordered to pay $1150 in fines and victims’ levies.

His licence was disqualified for three months.

Sebastian Padovan pleaded guilty to riding a motorcycle at 191km/h in a 100km/h zone on Tiger Brennan Drive

MITCHELL BAKEWELL: TEEN WHO WAS HANDED A SUSPENDED SENTENCE OVER A METH-FUELLED HIGH SPEED CAR CHASE WAS ARRESTED A WEEK LATER AFTER ANOTHER METH-FUELLED HIGH SPEED CAR CHASE

MITCHELL Bakewell was sentenced to 15 months in jail for a “disgraceful” incident which saw him throw a lit firecracker at police during a meth-fuelled, high-speed pursuit.

The then 19-year-old was sentenced in December 2018 after pleading guilty to driving unregistered, unlicensed, disqualified, and with false number plates in an unroadworthy car, possessing two ice pipes, failing to stop, assaulting police and shooting a firework at a police car.

The court heard Bakewell had a 15-year-old female passenger in the car when he led police on a chase at up to 160km/h on September 25, at one point driving the wrong way down Tiger Brennan Dr, forcing an oncoming car to swerve out of his way.

Police officers had to take evasive action in fear for their safety when Bakewell threw a lit firework at their car.

Bakewell got only 10 metres after trying to run from police, but punched a constable in the face.

Bakewell’s lawyer Matt Hubber said his client had a history of similar offending and that “things quickly went off the rails” after he was released from his last stint in jail.

Judge John Neill said Bakewell “made it through a week” as a free man before getting into another ice-fuelled police pursuit.

Mr Neill sentenced Bakewell to 15 months in jail with a non-parole period of 14 months.

He also fined him $1600 plus $600 in court levies, and disqualified him from getting behind the wheel again for five years.

BILLY JASS KLEIN: LED POLICE ON A HIGH-SPEED CHASE, SAID HE PANICKED BECAUSE HE THOUGHT HE WOULD GET IN TROUBLE IF PULLED OVER

LIVINGSTONE man Billy Jass Klein told a court that he led police on a high-speed chase along Tiger Brennan Drive in mid-2019 because he “didn’t want to get in trouble.”

Klein narrowly avoided actual jail time after pleading guilty to driving disqualified, unregistered, uninsured, with fake number plates, more than 45km/h over the speed limit, taking part in a pursuit and possessing a less than trafficable quantity of cannabis.

When police asked why he did not have a licence, Klein said: “Because I’m a f**king idiot, it’s been suspended for drink driving.”

Klein was recorded driving at 151km/h on Tiger Brennan Dr and ran a red light at its notorious intersection with Amy Johnson Dr.

Klein was picked up on foot in Yarrawonga.

The part-time labourer, self-represented, told the court: “I made a bad decision that day.

Judge Tanya Fong Lim said the community expected judges to hand out jail sentences for offending such as Klein’s but said his limited history and relatively young age meant the six-month jail sentence would be suspended immediately.

She also imposed a string of hefty fines and disqualified Klein for two years.