A 33-year-old father was fined $1000 in the Mandurah Magistrates Court on Friday after he crashed his car then reported it stolen to police.
Clayton Gregory Donald Boyd pleaded guilty to creating false belief, but told the court he was “confused, disorientated and shocked” after being in his first car crash.
Police prosecutor Tamara Read told the court Boyd reported his black Kia Cerato stolen at 4.50am on December 1, from an address on Ormsby Terrace in Mandurah.
About five hours later, Boyd called police to confess he had crashed his car into a barrier on Paganoni Road in Karnup.
The North Coogee resident told the court he was driving on an unfamiliar stretch of road and was ashamed for making a false report.
You now have to wear the consequences of your dishonesty.
- Magistrate Anne Longden
Magistrate Anne Longden told the court it was a “grave mistake” and only Boyd would know why he gave the false report.
“You now have to wear the consequences of your dishonesty,” she said.
Ms Longden granted Boyd a spent conviction because he had no prior record and was unlikely to re-offend.
He was fined $1000 and $205.30 costs.
Carla Hildebrandt
Journalist at the Mandurah Mail
Journalist at the Mandurah Mail
