‘Irresponsible’ driver runs red light to avoid police

A police prosecutor told the court Dean was coming from Toolamba Rd when he drove through a red light at the McLennan St intersection and continued straight on to Echuca Rd at Mooroopna at 3.45am on September 17, 2024.

He then turned right on to Ann St and went through a ‘give way’ sign.

He was driving a Hyundai iLoad at 80km/h with no headlights on and avoided police by not stopping when they flashed their lights, the prosecutor told the court.

The court heard Dean contacted Mooroopna police twice over the next week because he believed they were looking for him.

He told police he was drunk at the time and went through the red light to avoid being arrested.

Dean’s defence solicitor Anthony Coote said this offending was “out of character” for his client, who had never faced court before.

He said Dean was struggling with mental health and alcohol issues at the time.

However, Mr Coote said Dean now hadn’t had any alcohol for the past four months.

Magistrate Simon Zebrowski called Dean’s behaviour “irresponsible”.

Dean was fined $1000 without conviction, and his driver’s licence was cancelled for six months.