Teenager jailed after ‘disgraceful’ driving

A TEENAGER who stole his grandmother’s car and went on a “disgraceful” drive through Hobart, crashing into four cars at different times and evading police, has been jailed.

Joshua Edward Peter Darling, 18, pleaded guilty to two counts of dangerous driving, two counts of evading police and other traffic and stealing charges.

The Hobart Supreme Court heard Darling and another man broke into Darling’s grandmother’s house in Bathurst St about 4pm on June 7, and stole eight earrings and keys to a Volkswagen vehicle.

Acting Justice David Porter said the two left in the Volkswagen, with Darling, who was unlicensed, behind the wheel.

“No great speeds seem to have been involved but overall the manner of driving was disgraceful,” Acting Justice Porter said. “The defendant collided with four vehicles, along with [a] road railing.”

Darling collided with a car on Argyle St while overtaking it, drove into the rear of a vehicle on Bathurst St, reversed into a parked utility in the Elizabeth St bus mall while avoiding police, and reversed into a vehicle on the East Derwent Highway at Lindisfarne.

The court heard Darling drove away from police twice, but was stopped on Grass Tree Hill Rd, where he drove with the headlights off at speeds between 15km/h and 55km/h.

When the vehicle slowed to less than walking pace, police were able to intercept the defendant’s vehicle while on foot.

Acting Justice Porter said he was told Darling was “ashamed of his actions and sorry for what he has done”.

“Of his own volition he has written to his grandmother saying he is truly and deeply sorry, and hopes to be able to make it up to her,” he said.

Acting Justice Porter said Darling was a “troubled young man”. “He suffered from serious parental neglect, with a highly volatile and unstable home environment,” he said. “He has a pervasive history of anxiety and depression and trauma.”

On Thursday, Acting Justice Porter sentenced Darling to 20 months’ jail, but suspended 12 months for two years. He also made a probation order for 18 months, and disqualified Darling from driving for three years after his release from prison.