A P-plater who did a burnout has received a scathing rebuke from a magistrate in court, asking if he thought he was Formula One driver Max Verstappen.

Michael Skinner, of Kialla, pleaded guilty in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court to driving a vehicle causing loss of traction.

Prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Chris Cole told the court police had been outside the Shinezilla car wash in Kialla Lakes Dve, Kialla on May 25 last year when they heard a burnout.

Police said Skinner, who was aged 19 at the time, did a 14.9m straight burnout, before turning his vehicle 180 degrees and continuing to screech his tyres.

Skinner, who was on a P1 licence, had his vehicle impounded for 30 days at a cost of $1240.

Magistrate Simon Zebrowski was scathing of Skinner’s driving, particularly as a young P-plater.

“Do you think you are a Formula One driver?” he asked.

“Do you think you know what you’re doing? Because you don’t.

“You haven’t had a licence long.

“This is just stupidity.”

Mr Zebrowski berated Skinner, telling him he needed to think of the consequences of his actions.

“Luckily on this occasion, (the consequences are) just that the police saw you.”

The magistrate took into account that Skinner was an apprentice and he had to pay to get his car out of the impound.

He was fined $300, and a conviction was not recorded.

The magistrate did not interfere with Skinner’s driver’s licence.

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Thursday, 1st May 2025

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