Teen hoon given suspended jail term over 140km/h police pursuit through northern suburbs

A teenager doing burnouts as a stress release led police on a 140km/h chase with his headlights off – with a magistrate saying it was a miracle no one was hurt.

An aspiring mechanic has lost his dream job and can’t hold a licence for two years after using a burnout as stress “release”, a court has heard.

On Friday, a 17-year-old boy who cannot be named by law, was sentenced by Magistrate Kate Hodder in the Elizabeth Youth Court.

The court heard the boy had been “egged on” at a St Kilda car meet in June this year to complete a sustained wheel spin, or “burnout”.

The youth pleaded guilty to one count each of misusing a motor vehicle and driving dangerously to escape police pursuit.

Police helicopter patrols of the area located the car meet and tracked the vehicle driven by the P-plater until mobile patrols located them.

After turning on lights and sirens, the court heard a high-speed chase occurred through the northern suburbs.

The teen hoon, centre, outside the Elizabeth courthouse. Picture: 7NEWS

Ms Hodder said the boy had turned his lights off, driven up to 140km/h and on the wrong side of the road in a “dangerous manner” to escape the pursuit by police.

“It is a miracle that nobody, including yourself, was harmed,” Ms Hodder said.

The court heard after SAPOL attended the youth’s address, the teen attempted to flee on foot before he was arrested.

Counsel for the teen said the 17-year-old found “burnouts” a “release of pressure” and had been struggling with pressures from his vehicle mechanic apprenticeship and a recent argument with his father.

The teen hoon, centre, outside the Elizabeth courthouse. Picture: 7NEWS

Defence said he had lost his mechanical apprenticeship with the Motor Trade Association as a result of his loss of licence after his arrest.

“He is hopeful he will be able to pursue his dream career of becoming a mechanic in the future,” defence said.

The court heard the teen had been told the MTA might reconsider his apprenticeship, when he gained his driver’s licence.

Ms Hodder sentenced the youth to three months in jail, suspended on a seven-month obligation, with a two-year loss of licence.

Originally published as Teen hoon given suspended jail term over 140km/h police pursuit through northern suburbs