By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A Hampton Park man laughed in court as he faced off with a magistrate over speeding at 153km/h on the Monash Freeway.
Sahana Dananjaya Sandaradura was told by judge Pauline Spencer at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court that he was a “really bad driver”.
He had been snapped at 53km/h over the limit by a freeway speed camera at Glen Iris about 3.38am on 23 April.
He chuckled, and Ms Spencer retorted: “Well you are!
“This is your third drive-suspended charge.
“You’re not only driving when you shouldn’t be driving but you’re speeding at an incredibly fast rate.”
Sandaradura replied that “no-one was in danger” at the time.
“There was no-one in front of me, no-one behind me.”
Ms Spencer pointed out that police officers and other first-responders were often called out to young men in single-vehicle crashes.
“You don’t think this is unsafe. Are you absolutely insane?”
Sandaradura said he had been unaware he faced possible jail for his multiple suspended driving charge.
“It’s a hard lesson that I’ve learnt now,” he said.
Ms Spencer replied: “You didn’t learn it last time (you were in court)?”
“This was the last straw,” Sandaradura said.
“I self-destruct.”
Ms Spencer said she didn’t mind as long as he didn’t “destruct” other motorists and first responders.
As his final argument, Sandaradura offered to sell his car and to take public transport.
“Whatever it takes,” he said.
“I’m ready to move on with my life.”
Ms Spencer sentenced him to 100 hours of community work as well as 15 months off the road.
“You’ve had fines before and it hasn’t worked.
“I have to make it as inconvenient as possible for you.
“You need to be going to jail, quite frankly.”
Sandaradura was only spared prison due to his young age, Ms Spencer said.
“Nothing will keep you out of jail next time.”
