Ford John Peckover in court for evading police, burnouts near Stockland

A young man learned a very expensive lesson about showing off in the middle of Rockhampton’s busiest intersection after police unexpectedly arrived.

A young man has learned a very expensive lesson about showing off in the middle of Rockhampton’s busiest intersection in front of late night shoppers, pedestrians, a truck driver, motorists and an unexpected police officer.

A young man has learned a very expensive lesson about showing off in the middle of Rockhampton’s busiest intersection in front of late night shoppers, pedestrians, a truck driver, motorists and an unexpected police officer.

Ford John Peckover, 19, claimed he felt “peer pressured” when he did three ‘doughnuts’ in the middle of the Yaamba Road and Moores Creek Road intersection near Stockland Rockhampton on May 2, Rockhampton Magistrates Court heard last week.

Police prosecutor Claudia Neill-Ballantine told the court on November 13 that Peckover had stopped at a red light at the intersection on a late night shopping night before commencing a “lengthy burnout” in the middle of the intersection, completing three circles and “completely impeding access in and out of the intersection”.

She said while conducting the doughnuts, the vehicle lost traction, causing a large cloud of smoke from the tyres.

Ms Neill-Ballantine said there were many cars at the intersection at the time, along with a truck and about 10 pedestrians on the footpath.

“It is fortunate that no one was injured or a traffic crash did not occur,” she said.

Ms Neill-Ballantine said a police officer was travelling towards the intersection from the south and activated the lights and sirens on his car.

Road works intersection of Yaamba Rd and Moores Creek Rd.

Peckover took off along Yaamba Road and did not stop when directed by the officer.

Ms Neill-Ballantine said the officer estimated Peckover’s vehicle was travelling in excess of 100km/hr before he ended the pursuit.

The vehicle was located the next day parked on Reaney Street, Berserker, with no registration plates and checks revealed its registration had been cancelled on April 29.

Ms Neill-Ballantine said police spoke with the owner of the vehicle, who was not Peckover, and who identified Peckover as the driver during the burnout incident.

She said Peckover made full admissions to police, adding he had “felt peer pressured”.

Ms Neill-Ballantine said the defendant told police when he saw the lights and heard the sirens, he panicked.

She said he was “completely remorseful for his actions and stated he should have stayed at home”.

Defence lawyer Pierre Lammersdorf said his client started a casual labour job at Bajool two weeks ago and was back living with his mother.

Peckover pleaded guilty to one count each of careless driving, evade police, drive an unregistered vehicle and drive an uninsured vehicle.

Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale said it was a shame that Peckover was going to have a very expensive lesson about “showing off”.

She ordered Peckover pay $8440 in fines, including a $7740 mandatory minimum for the evade police, and disqualified him from driving for two years.

Traffic convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Ford John Peckover in court for evading police, burnouts near Stockland