Timothy Chaplin pleads guilty to performing burnouts in Bundaberg

A young Sunshine Coast man with an “atrocious” traffic history has been told to pull his head in after he was pinned doing burnouts near pedestrians.

Timothy Ian Chaplin faced Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Tuesday. Picture: Patrick Woods

A Maroochydore man with an “atrocious” traffic history has been told to pull his head in after he was pinned committing burnouts while visiting family up north.

Stunned bystanders watched on as Timothy Ian Chaplin committed two burnouts at areas in Bundaberg on November 25 last year while his licence was suspended.

Police prosecutor Michael Quirk told Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Tuesday how the 20-year-old was seen in the Wide Bay suburbs of Bargara and Branyan performing identical 360 degree turns and skids in grassy suburban areas near roads.

Mr Quirk said Chaplin’s green Holden Commodore ute at one stage came within 10m of a pedestrian, while in another incident he was within close proximity to a road and houses.

Witnesses saw both incidents and reported them to police.

The court heard a registration offence was sent to the Maroochydore man, however he did not respond to the notice which led to police coming to his home and questioning him.

Chaplin told police he failed to respond to the notices under the belief if he did not, they would allocate him as the driver.

Investigations revealed the 20-year-old’s licence was suspended at the time due to a loss of demerit points and a high speed suspension.

Chaplin after his sentence. Picture: Patrick Woods

Chaplin was given a notice to appear for two counts each of driving without due care and unlicensed driving, which he pleaded guilty to during his court appearance on Tuesday.

The Maroochydore man represented himself and told the court he was visiting family in Bundaberg at the time and claimed he “went off the rails a bit” after a break up with his girlfriend.

Since being charged Chaplin said the car was off the road and cited how he did not do the burnouts on the roads.

Magistrate Raelene Ellis acknowledged his young age, but bluntly said he had an “absolutely atrocious” traffic history.

Ms Ellis told the 20-year-old having a licence was a privilege and not a right, and said he needed to prioritise the safety of other road users.

“I suggest you sit down ... during a period of your licence disqualification ... and make a note of watching the news every night to see how many accidents there are on our roads where people die,” Ms Ellis said.

“And these aren’t individuals doing stupid things like burnouts, these are people just going about their day, experienced drivers, and in the spur in the moment make bad decisions, then we have inexperienced drivers like you, doing stupid things like burnouts and people’s lives are well and truly are at risk.

“If you can’t drive properly, don’t drive.”

Chaplin was fined $1500 and disqualified from driving for nine months with a traffic conviction recorded.

Originally published as Timothy Chaplin pleads guilty to performing burnouts in Bundaberg