Driver apologises to officer

A SOUTHERN Tasmanian man who reversed his car towards a police officer and then drove dangerously through Hobart’s northern suburbs, forcing pedestrians and other motorists to get out of his way, later apologised to the police officer, a court has heard.

Brodie John Self, 25, pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court in Hobart yesterday to one count of dangerous driving.

Crown prosecutor Emily Bill told the court Self drove dangerously through Glenorchy, Derwent Park, Moonah and Lutana on August 1 last year, forcing pedestrians and other motorists to take evasive action to avoid being hit.

Ms Bill said Self was disqualified from driving at the time, and started his dangerous driving when a police officer approached his vehicle at the intersection of Grove and Main roads, Glenorchy about 2pm.

She said Self reversed his vehicle towards a police officer and then drove forward at speed and mounted a footpath.

“There were pedestrians on the footpath [who were] forced to take evasive action,” Ms Bill said.

She said Self’s dangerous driving took place over 15 minutes and a distance of 7km at a time when pedestrian and vehicular traffic was heavy.

The court heard Self, who was arrested two days after the incident on August 3, apologised to the officer he reversed towards.

“He said … ‘I actually am sorry, I wasn’t trying to hit you, I was trying to get away. I saw you running and I was scared’,” Ms Bill said.

Self told the court he had used drugs that morning and he did not realise the man he saw approaching his car was a police officer.

“I did not know who they were and I panicked and took off and then I seen sirens and I didn’t know what to do,” he said.

Self said the drugs made him scared and paranoid.

Self’s lawyer Fabiano Cangelosi told the court Self had been using drugs since he was about 13 years old and his current drugs of concern were cannabis and opioids.

Mr Cangelosi said Self had recently taken steps to stop using the drug ice.

Justice Gregory Geason bailed Self to reappear in court for sentencing in September.