By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A man has been jailed after pleading guilty to an array of driving and drug offences across Victoria, including an erratic ice-fueled 148 km/h drive in a puddly emergency lane on the Western Freeway.
Tyson Timmins, 25, was told he was lucky he had not lost control of the 2006 Commodore when he hit the puddle at speed near Bacchus Marsh on 20 August, Dandenong Magistrates’ Court judge Jack Vandersteen said.
Police observed a huge plume of water sprayed by Timmins’ vehicle as it entered the puddle.
“You were driving in a manner that was incredibly dangerous,” Mr Vandersteen said.
Timmins kept driving until he stopped at a McDonald’s in Sunshine West where police intercepted him.
They observed his blood-shot eyes, rapid speech, agitation and “slightly dirty” presentation.
He tested positive to methamphetamine.
Earlier, a concerned driver had phoned triple-zero about Timmins’ high-speed tailgating, lane-splitting and overtaking in the freeway’s emergency lane.
At the time, Timmins’ probationary licence was disqualified. The car was towed away and impounded at the scene.
Last year, he was intercepted driving a Commodore with two bald rear tyres and cannabis in an interior compartment in Narre Warren South, the court heard.
He also pleaded guilty to the burglary of a Dandenong funeral parlour where he stole a roll of electrical cable as well as stealing tools from the back of a vehicle in Clayton in January.
He also pleaded guilty to stealing a power tool from a Box Hill real estate agent in broad daylight, fleeing from the agent’s receptionist.
Two Gumtree posts listing the tool for sale were reported by the victim to police.
He was on bail during the latter three incidents.
At the time, Timmins was in the grip of an ice habit, and under threat from lenders as he tried to pay back gambling debts, defence lawyer Cassie Heiser said.
Mr Vandersteen noted Timmins’ age, his limited criminal history and the impact of a recent family breakdown.
“You can see you’re clearly in a cycle of committing offences, most likely to service a drug addiction.”
Corrections Victoria assessed Timmins as suitable for a community corrections order, noting he was a high risk of re-offending.
His 12-month CCO includes supervision, judicial monitoring and treatment for drugs and mental health, as well as a ban on associating with three named men.
He was also sentenced to 27 days’ jail, already served in pre-sentence remand.
His driving licence was disqualified for 15 months.
