A JOONDALUP magistrate has expressed how “dumb” it was that a man almost went to jail on Friday for driving his car across the road.
Daniel Neville Williams appeared before Magistrate Sandra De Maio charged with no authority to drive, having never held a drivers licence.
However, it was not the first time with the court hearing this was his sixth offence and it came just four months after he was sentenced previously.
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READ NOWWilliams’ lawyer Neville Barber said the latest incident at 4.10pm on April 25 was “different to a degree”.
The 36-year-old surfer was at home in Clarkson where there was landscaping work being done.
“To protect the car, he drove it across the road and parked on the verge,” Dr Barber said.
Appealing for a minimal sentence, Dr Barber said Williams’ car had been confiscated, which is a “significant penalty” and he had lost his employment because his friend was driving him to work using that car.
He said if prison was being considered, he requested it be suspended to give him “one final opportunity to do the right thing and not drive in the future”.
Ms De Maio said it was “crackers” how close Williams, who has a 14-year-old daughter, was to going to prison “for driving and worse, for moving a car”.
“It’s just not good enough,” she said.
“Your child should not have to see you during visiting hours in prison because the court told you not to drive.
“I have to send you and the world a message.”
Ms De Maio sentenced Williams to the minimum six months and one day in prison, suspended for nine months.
“You cannot put a foot wrong,” she said.
“Don’t ever get that close again.”
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