HOONS caught on video performing smoking donuts and burnouts in tandem – and in one instance hitting a spectator – at South East Skids meets in an industrial estate have had their cars forfeited to the State.
More than 20 offenders – arrested as part of Taskforce Regarder police investigations – were called at a packed Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 8 June.
One of them was Mitchell Gifford, of Cranbourne, captured on CCTV performing skids at an event in Licola Crescent, Dandenong South, on 13 January.
Later that morning, he attempted to evade police during a pursuit in Cranbourne, travelling at up to 135km/h.
During the abandoned pursuit, he caused other drivers to brake heavily as he entered a roundabout on the wrong side of the road and turned right.
His blue Falcon was seized during his arrest at home later that day.
The same car had been observed performing a sustained, circular burnout in Lynbrook in October – as well as in a Bundoora industrial estate in late 2014.
Gifford’s lawyer argued the accused was self-medicating with alcohol due to past severe bullying, anxiety and depression.
He had also suffered the loss of his car for the past five months, the court was told.
Magistrate Barry Schulz said Gifford’s conduct was at “the higher end” and over an extended period.
He noted members of the public were put at “incredible risk” by Gifford’s evasion of police in Cranbourne.
“It’s a matter of your (young) age that has particularly saved you from a period of imprisonment.”
He was convicted and put on a 12-month community corrections order, including supervision, and 125 hours of unpaid work and offenders’ programs.
Gifford was disqualified from driving for 18 months, ordered to take part in a safe driving program and his car forfeited.
In other cases, Mitchell McCullagh, 21, was facing a “significant” community corrections order due to his vehicle striking a spectator off her feet during a smoking donut at the Licola Crescent turnaround bowl during a South East Skids meet on 30 December.
Mr Schulz said an eloquent psychological report saved McCullagh from jail. The report detailed the accused’s low intelligence and explained how cars alone bolstered his esteem.
On 13 January, Brodie Treloar’s car entered the turnbowl after another car and did tandem, circular burnouts while a passenger sat out the window, according to footage shown to the court.
At the same time, several people walked in the middle to film the performance – akin to “running with the bulls”, Mr Schulz said.
The magistrate said those factors frighteningly heightened the “inexcusable” conduct of the 20-year-old Cranbourne accused.
Treloar was put on a 12-month community order with 125 hours of unpaid work, and his licence disqualified for six months – taking into account his need to drive to Tyabb for full-time work.
Police did not apply to forfeit his vehicle.
Jason Neaves faced a significant community corrections order and possible forfeiture of his Commodore with number plate DR1FTS after pleading guilty to performing spinning burnouts at a South East Skids meet in Dandenong South on 9 December.
Mr Schulz took into account Neave’s early, frank admissions to police as well as his experience at legal drag meets – though that was a “double-edged sword”.
“He should have known better,” the magistrate said.
Lachlan Forsyth, of Cranbourne, had his vehicle forfeited, was fined $1500, put on a 12-month good behaviour bond, a safe-driving course and lost his driver’s licence for 12 months.
He had pleaded guilty to reckless conduct as well as driving suspended and driving an unregistered vehicle.
The cases continue.
