September 24, 2011

Community work for driving 'menace'

By Anne Clarkson at the Rangiora Court House

An 18-year-old described by the judge as a menace on the roads has been ordered to do 240 hours of community work and disqualified from driving for six months.

Damian George James Johnson encouraged a woman driver to speed away from the police, then pulled on the handbrake causing the car to slide and crash, pushed her out of the way and drove off.

He appeared at the Christchurch District Court session at the Rangiora Court House yesterday for sentence on 13 charges, seven of them driving-related.

Johnson had been convicted on three driving while forbidden charges, one dangerous driving, one aiding a woman driving in a dangerous manner, two drink-driving charges, two giving false information to the police, two receiving stolen property, one breach of bail, and one possession of cannabis charge.

Defence counsel Grant Tyrrell said the dangerous driving was a joint effort when he tried to do a favour for the woman.

He said Johnson was in a reasonable amount of trouble which reflected his stupidity and immaturity. But Johnson?s pre-sentence report highlighted that he had some merit, and insight into the offending.

Since the offending Johnson had had nine months with a driving ban and had been on a curfew, after his sentencing had to be adjourned because of the snow storms,?Tyrrell?said.

Judge Noel Walsh said Johnson was unrepentant about running a gauntlet of driving without a licence, driving while drunk, and driving dangerously, and was a menace on the roads.

He sentenced him to 240 hours community work, and disqualified him from driving for six months.

He told Johnson that if he completed the sentence without any further convictions all his outstanding fines and fees would be remitted.