Road-rage case ‘ridiculous’

A MAGISTRATE has questioned the actions of two middle-aged motorists after they were involved in a road-rage incident in central Geelong on Australia Day.

Michael Coghlan condemned the behaviour of Hamlyn Heights man Mark Leckey this week after he pleaded guilty to assaulting fellow driver Heather Hunter.

The court heard that the drivers, both 51, had a confrontation in the Geelong CBD about 4.30pm on January 26, with Hunter describing it to the court as a “brutal attack”.

“I felt my life was in danger”, she said in her victim impact statement, saying it revived memories of losing a friend to a murder years earlier.

But the court heard Leckey told police he did not touch the victim.

But he did admit getting out of his car to confront her, trying to grab her mobile phone and extracting the keys from her ignition and throwing them.

“This is a serious assault on a female — a road-rage incident, for want of a better term,” Mr Coghlan said.

“Maybe we don’t want people on the road who behave like this to other road users.”

The magistrate noted police evidence that Ms Hunter had red marks on her neck after the incident, and the intimidating appearance Leckey presented in photos she had taken before the confrontation.

Mr Goghlan was told the victim had attended counselling since the incident, struggled to sleep and had fitted a camera to her car “for safety”.

But Mr Coghlan also questioned Ms Hunter’s behaviour, hearing she had “tailgated” Leckey’s vehicle after he had paused at stop lights on Latrobe Terrace, preventing her getting through the intersection.

Afterwards she shamed Leckey on social media with posts that attracted 28,000 shares, the court was told.

Both Leckey and Ms Hunter arrived at court yesterday seeking intervention orders against each other, before being convinced to leave each other alone via a courtroom undertaking, while Leckey pleaded guilty to an assault charge.

“One person misses a green arrow and the courts have to deal with all of this — how ridiculous,” Mr Coghlan said.

“Shame on people for engaging in this behaviour.

“I can’t get over, however, your behaviour in particular (Leckey).

“It is inappropriate and requires condemnation and a conviction to be recorded by this court.”

Leckey’s licence was suspended for six weeks and he was ordered to pay a $1200 fine, with $120 costs.