A MOUNT Gambier man who was witnessed “street racing” at almost twice the legal speed on Penola Road received a suspended sentence in court on Tuesday.
Paul Keith Walker, 34, appeared in the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court to be sentenced for driving at dangerous speed.
The prosecution said a witness captured footage on their dashboard camera of Walker driving on Penola Road at around 12pm on September 13, 2016.
Footage showed the defendant travelling at speeds exceeding 110kph in a 60kph zone.
The witness said it appeared Walker was street racing, however the defendant’s lawyer said his client denied he was ever racing.
Instead, the lawyer claimed his client was in a feud with the driver of another car because he “cut him off”.
The prosecution said the witness was concerned the manner of driving would result in a serious accident.
“It was serious considering the time of day, location and the fact he had no regard for other road users,” the prosecution said.
Walker’s lawyer said his client accepted his driving had the potential to cause an accident and knew it was wrong.
He claimed it was spur of the moment and took place over a distance of 500 metres.
“It was not a sustained period of driving, but instead a short distance at high speed,” the lawyer said.
Magistrate Teresa Anderson said Walker’s driving made him a real danger to other people on the road.
“You said the other driver had been acting in a provocative way, so you should have stopped and pulled over,” Magistrate Anderson said.
“You chose to speed up and put the community at risk.”
Magistrate Anderson also highlighted Walker’s poor driving history.
He was sentenced to three months and 18 days imprisonment, which was suspended on him entering a $500, 12 month good behaviour bond.
“It is suspended mainly because of the partial provocation,” Magistrate Anderson said.
Walker’s licence was also disqualified for 12 months.
