By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
AN ice-using suspended driver told police he thought he fell asleep when he crashed into the back of a stationary vehicle on a Monash Freeway off-ramp, a court heard.
Andrew Pierson, 21, – who had been previously convicted for suspended driving seven times – had crashed his car at unknown speed at the Heatherton Road overpass intersection about 6am on 16 October.
Both cars required towing from the scene, the court heard.
The force of the crash caused the victim’s vehicle to hit the car in front, police prosecutor Senior Constable Ryan Johnson told the court.
Pierson allegedly told police at the time he didn’t know how the crash happened.
“I wasn’t speeding … I must have fallen asleep.”
At the time, Pierson was on a suspended three-month jail sentence for multiple counts of disqualified driving imposed in April 2015.
He was also put on a community corrections order in December for two counts of driving suspended.
Pierson’s lawyer told the court the accused, who was a heavy ice user at the time, had since “considerably” turned his life around, no longer had a car and abstained from all drug use.
Under his CCO, the accused had completed about half of his unpaid work requirement, completed drug treatment and engaged with mental-health practitioners.
He was now prioritising his family, particularly his two children, the court was told.
The lawyer said Pierson’s “considerable efforts” to rehabilitate himself, his youth and the detriment to his family should spare him from jail – despite the suspended sentence hanging over his head.
Magistrate Gerard Bryant said there was a community expectation for the suspended sentence to be restored.
“The only thing that has saved you is your youth and that you seem to be proactive (in your rehabilitation).”
Mr Bryant said the real challenge was for Pierson to maintain the effort, and to demonstrate to the court he was growing up.
Pierson’s licence was disqualified for a further 12 months on top of its two-year cancellation.
He was put on a further 12-month CCO including 100 hours of unpaid work and treatment programs and judicial monitoring.
“Unless you can sustain the efforts you have made, you’re looking at a jail sentence,” Mr Bryant said.
“You’re a long way from the finishing line. I hope you make it.”
