Driver goes out of bounds at wheel

TORQUAY golfer Jason Harold Loftus might be good on the driver, but a court has heard he is not a good driver.

The man, 51, did a runner from a car crash on Mundy St, Geelong, in September last year, but was caught by police after leaving a golf trophy with his name on it alongside his clubs in the damaged vehicle he had been driving.

Geelong Magistrates’ Court heard the driver went off course on September 29, crashing his friend’s silver Audi into a parked Skoda station wagon.

Both vehicles were ironed out, leaving Loftus with a combined bill of almost $20,000, that the court heard he was trying to pay off.

Prosecutor Senior Constable Kerrie Moroney said residents who heard the crash ventured out to find Loftus alone in the car, smelling of alcohol.

Magistrate Peter Mellas said the circumstances of his offending also “reek(ed)”.

Mr Mellas was told the man bolted, and there were reports he had been drinking at a function at the Torquay Golf Club earlier that night.

But when police caught up with him, he gave them no assistance, and it was too late to test for alcohol.

Mr Mellas said the defend- ant had “impeded and interfered with a proper investigation”, noting he had made a “conscious and deliberate decision to leave the scene and avoid arrest”.

Lawyer Michael Brugman said the father-of-four accepted responsibility for his actions, was keen to keep his driver’s licence so he could continue work as a self-employed concreter, and was planning an overseas trip later this year to pursue his sporting talents.

A Torquay member, Loftus can reportedly launch a golf ball beyond 330m when conditions are favourable, and is Australia’s long drive masters champion. He is preparing to represent Australia at the world championships in the US next month.

He pleaded guilty to counts of careless driving and failing to report the crash. He was fined $750, and his driver’s licence was suspended for three months.