Dangerous driver

He was horrified by the driving. It was appalling, Judge Phillips said sentencing a dangerous driver.

Jayde Mark Scoullar (24), of Dunedin, had been convicted of driving dangerously, on October 7.

The police summary said that Scoullar, driving south in Cumberland St, stopped at a red light at the Queens Gardens intersection.

Scoullar had a learner driver’s licence. With him was an acquaintance who was suspended from driving.

The 61yearold victim was in his vehicle and coming off the Wharf St overbridge intending to turn on to Cumberland St and cross to Police St.

About 380m away when the victim went to cross, Scoullar, in a cloud of blue smoke and travelling at more than the 60kmh speed limit, accelerated past traffic towards the victim.

Noticing Scoullar’s car coming at him at high speed, and not knowing what to do because of the speed, the victim stopped in an attempt to let Scoullar drive around him.

Scoullar pulled hard to the left and locked his car’s wheels up to try to avoid hitting the victim.

Unable to do so, he struck the rear driver’s side of the victim’s vehicle shunting it across the road and spinning it at the same time. His car continued on and crashed.

Counsel Sasha Dolby said Scoullar pleaded guilty.

He also acknowledged his driving was inappropriate.

Scoullar was sentenced to 160 hours’ community work, disqualified from driving for nine months and is to pay $300 reparation (at $50 a week by attachment order on his benefit).