Jeremy Mackay, 21, pleaded guilty in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court to driving in a dangerous manner, failing to stop for a direction by police and drink driving.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Sarah Halnon told the court police spotted Mackay driving “at a fast rate of speed” in Railway Parade in Shepparton at 12.12 am on May 30 last year.
When the probationary driver turned into Fryers St, Mackay did “a J-turn” using his handbrake, before colliding with a roadworks sign, Sen Constable Halnon said.
Mackay then sped off north on Harold St before police lost sight of him, before he was again spotted in Corio St where he “accelerated rapidly” away from police, Sen Constable Halnon said.
The court heard Mackay accelerated more after police put on their lights and sirens in Granthorn St.
When he got to the Balaclava Rd stop sign, a police car pulled up in front of him and another behind.
When a police officer was at the window of the car telling him to get out, Mackay “reversed diagonally and accelerated away”, Sen Constable Halnon said.
He was eventually caught on the corner of Drummond Rd and Old Dookie Rd.
When breath-tested, Mackay recorded a blood alcohol content reading of 0.161, Sen Constable Halnon said.
As a P2 driver he is not allowed to have any alcohol in his system.
Mackay’s driver’s licence was suspended immediately and his car was impounded.
Sen Constable Halnon told the court Mackay told police in an interview at the time that his behaviour was “a bit reckless I suppose” and when questioned as to why he didn’t stop he told them “I was scared, I didn’t know what to do so I drove off”.
Representing himself in court, Mackay said he had been scared.
“I wasn’t in the right mind frame,” he said.
He admitted he “wasn’t thinking straight” because he was drunk.
The plumber told the court he had stopped drinking alcohol since then and had completed the Cool Heads road safety program.
The court was also told Mackay did not have any prior court history.
Magistrate Mary-Anne MacCallum fined Mackay $2000 and disqualified his licence for 18 months from the time of the offence, which means he will be able to reapply for it soon.
“(This is) extremely dangerous behaviour. You’re lucky this misadventure didn’t end in tragedy for yourself and someone else,” Ms MacCallum said.
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