Teenager walks free from Albany Children’s Court after evading police, driving recklessly and blowing 0.124

A teenager has been given a stern dressing-down by an Albany magistrate who told him that if he committed the same crimes as an adult, he would be going to jail. The offender, who recently turned 18, appeared in Albany Children’s Court last Friday and pleaded guilty to reckless driving, failing to stop for police, and excess .08. He recorded a blood alcohol level of 0.124 while driving on his P-plates. Police prosecutor Sgt Dave Loverock told the court about 5pm on December 27 the boy — who was 17 at the time — was approached by police while driving his Holden Commodore in Hopetoun. “The accused has been directed to pull over by police; he’s pulled left and accelerated with his tyres screeching,” Sgt Loverock said. He drove into Hopetoun Caravan Park, sliding around the gravel roads and putting caravan patrons and families in danger, Sgt Loverock told the court. Lawyer Kylie Ferridge said her client had got into an argument with his girlfriend and decided to visit another friend for consolation. “(He) made a poor decision to drive ... it was the wrong choice. He’s been pulled over in a RBT and panicked,” Ms Ferridge said. Ms Ferridge said he admitted he was driving “way too fast” in the caravan park at a speed of 25km/h in an 8km/h speed zone. “He’s done one lap of the park before stopping the car, approaching police to say it was him who was driving,” Ms Ferridge said. He was ashamed of his actions, she said. Magistrate Dianne Scaddan told the 18-year-old it was a “privilege, not a right” to have a driving licence. “This is reckless driving — come back as an adult and you’ll receive a term of imprisonment,” she said. The teenager was fined $1250 and disqualified from driving for eight months. He had his licence cancelled and will need to re-sit his driving test. “Hopefully this is a wake-up call ... you need to regain trust in the community,” the magistrate said. “If police have lights and sirens on, pull over — otherwise I will have no choice but to send you to jail.”