Marshal Lethborg: Launceston teen fined more than $1000 for race

A Tasmanian teenager has been slugged in court after pleading guilty to three offences committed in plain sight of police.

A teenage motorcyclist has been slugged more than $1000 in court after racing a utility vehicle in plain sight of an unmarked police vehicle.

Launceston man Marshal Maxwell Lethborg, 18, pleaded guilty in Launceston Magistrates Court on Thursday to charges of speeding, failing to display his L-plates and racing in a public street.

All offences occurred on September 19 last year.

An unmarked police car was pulled up at the intersection of Brisbane and Wellington streets when the two vehicles came to the officers’ attention.

After the three vehicles turned onto Charles and then Paterson St, the “motorcycle pulled behind the ute then accelerated heavily past” it, in what was described as an “obvious race” to the court.

The motorcycle was estimated to be exceeding the speed limit by 10km/h.

Lethborg was pulled over on George St, where he denied racing and demanded the officers produce a radar reading to prove he was speeding.

His motorcycle was impounded for 28 days, the court heard.

Defence lawyer Andrew Lonergan told the court his client’s motorcycle was subsequently stolen after its release and he remained unemployed due to “difficulties with transport”.

Mr Lonergan submitted for no licence disqualification for his client but Magistrate Ken Stanton told the court racing what is known locally as the ‘Blockie Route’ deserved a disqualification.

He imposed fines and costs worth $1169.30 and disqualified Lethborg’s driver’s licence for six weeks.

Convictions were recorded.