Driver may dodge jail
A DRIVER put the public in danger when he sped from police after being spotted parked on a Belmont nature strip, a court has heard.
Guy Burr was unlicensed and should not have been driving when officers noticed him behind the wheel of a car on Thomson Street.
Geelong Magistrates Court heard police pulled up behind the vehicle when Burr suddenly reversed towards them.
Officers inside the marked van activated their lights and sirens as Burr took off at a fast speed.
He was found and arrested within minutes while browsing through a store at a nearby shopping centre.
Burr, 26, of Whittington, pleaded guilty on Thursday to driving and weapon offences.
Prosecutor Jeremy Allen told the court the incident took place about 9.30am on January 25, 2020.
After speeding from police, Burr’s vehicle was seen parked outside Belmont Village Shopping Centre.
Checks on the car revealed
it was displaying plates belonging to another vehicle, while a search uncovered knuckledusters in the driver’s side door.
The court was told Burr had an extensive criminal history that included serious driving offences.
Defence lawyer Niamh Harrington, for Burr, described the latest incident as “incredibly regrettable”.
“He was aware that he was unlicensed and he shouldn’t have been in the driver’s seat at all,” she said.
“He really did panic and made things a lot worse for himself than they otherwise would’ve been.”
Ms Harrington told the court her client had not offended since the incident.
“It’s occurred over 12 months ago now and fortunately Mr Burr hasn’t found himself in any further trouble,” she said.
“In my submission, that’s already a significant improvement when you look at his history.
“He was in and out of trouble for many years without much of a break.”
She urged the court to impose a sentence other than jail, stating Burr was prepared to do unpaid community work.
Magistrate Peter Mellas said he was “tempted” to consider a jail term, but will instead have Burr assessed for a community correction order.
“In my view, this incident warranted and justified me thinking about the extent to which the community needed to be protected from your bad decision-making,” Mr Mellas said.
“There may be all sorts of reasons for your bad decisionmaking, but the community doesn’t have to put up with it.”
Burr, who is on bail, will return to court for sentencing on April 28.