A 22-year-old Mandurah man, who was caught travelling 60 kilometres per hour over the speed limit, has faced court for nine driving related offences.
Cohben Chase Patterson pleaded guilty to all charges in the Mandurah Magistrates Court on Tuesday, including failing to report an accident after crashing his vehicle into a caravan then fleeing the scene, and reckless driving.
Police prosecutor Mick Fallows told the court Patterson was riding a Honda motorbike in a northerly direction along Pinjarra Road, in Ravenswood about 6pm on April 4.
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A speed camera detected Patterson travelling 98 km/h in an 80 km/h zone, on a motorbike fitted with false number plates.
A few hours later, on Old Coast Road in Falcon, Patterson’s bike was detected to be travelling at 140 km/h in an 80 km/h zone.
Senior Constable Fallows said ten minutes later in Ravenswood, Patterson was involved in a traffic collision and found to be riding without a motorbike licence and on methamphetamine.
Patterson told her he did not want to become a “40-year-old junkie with no prospects and no life”.
He received two broken arms from the incident.
Senior Constable Fallows said Patterson had crashed into a caravan in September last year after speeding around a street-bend in his vehicle, in Erskine.
Sen Const. Fallows said Patterson fled the scene and abandoned his vehicle two kilometres south of the incident after removing the vehicle number plates.
Lawyer Siohban Nims told the court Patterson was speeding because he wanted to get home quickly and had panicked after the crash.
Ms Nims said he had a “close-knit family” and Patterson was worried his sister, who bought him the vehicle, would be disappointed.
He did not have an explanation for the reckless driving, but Ms Nims suggested it was impulsive, considering his young age and ADHD diagnosis.
Ms Nims said Patterson had been using methamphetamine for four years, and had told her he did not want to become a “40-year-old junkie with no prospects and no life”.
Magistrate Brionie Ayling told the court Patterson had co-operated with police and pleaded guilty at an early stage.
She accepted his remorse.
Patterson was given a nine-month community based order, fined $800 with $190.85 costs.
He was disqualified from driving for nine months.