A magistrate says the issue of people driving dangerously to get away from police has taken on “epidemic proportions”.

Matthew O’Kane, 28, of Tungamah, pleaded guilty in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court to dangerous driving, failing to stop for police and driving while suspended.

A police prosecutor told the court O’Kane was driving a Toyota LandCruiser at 171km/h on Devenish Rd, a 100km/h zone on October 16, 2023.

He had just been cutting corners at dangerous speeds around Tungamah, and police tried to stop him by flashing their red and blue lights.

However, the court heard police had to stop pursuing O’Kane because of the speed he was driving at.

Police then went to his home that night where they found the front window smashed and no-one home.

The police prosecutor also told the court police pulled O’Kane over when he was towing a trailer on Leitchville Rd, Leitchville, on January 13 this year while his licence was suspended.

His licence had been suspended two months before for exceeding the speed limit by more than 30km/h but less than 35km/h.

O’Kane said he didn’t know his licence was suspended.

Speaking of O’Kane’s driving in 2023, his defence counsel said his client “can’t explain why he did it”, but it was a “stupid thing to do”.

He told the court O’Kane was struggling with mental health issues, but he had since addressed them.

He also noted O’Kane wasn’t driving in any built-up areas.

Speaking of O’Kane’s dangerous driving, magistrate Simon Zebrowski said this kind of offending was beginning to take on “epidemic proportions” and he saw it “too regularly”.

“It worries me that people do this to get away from police,” he said.

“It’s a miracle we don’t have more deaths on the roads.

“It’s only a matter of time before someone walking along gets bowled over by some clown.”

He said people need to understand “having a licence is a privilege, not a right”.

Mr Zebrowski told O’Kane he put himself in this situation, and he was “extraordinarily lucky” no-one was hurt.

“You have a responsibility not to drive like a lunatic,” he said.

“It puts members of the public at risk, because he decided not to stop.

“This will not be tolerated.”

O’Kane was fined $2000 and he was disqualified from driving for 12 months.

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Saturday, 8th March 2025

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