Former IBO super-featherweight boxing world champion and Commonwealth Games silver medallist William Tomlinson has appeared in court for a Geelong driving stuff-up after a ‘miscalculation’.
William Tomlinson, who once held the IBO super-featherweight title, pleaded guilty to unlicensed driving when he faced the Geelong Magistrates Court on Thursday.
Tomlinson, 37, is also a Commonwealth Games silver medallist. He was busted after being pulled over by police earlier this year.
Officers stopped Tomlinson in Geelong on the morning of February 14 and he did not produce a driver’s licence.
Further checks by police revealed his licence had been suspended in November, 2022 and the suspension was due to finish on February 22, 2023 – a week after he was intercepted.
The court was told Tomlinson had previously lost his licence for speeding in a school zone.
Tomlinson’s lawyer told the court his client had miscalculated when his licence would be reinstated and was remorseful for his actions.
“In terms of his suspension, his wife takes care of the mail, and she saw the notice and paid it,” Tomlinson’s lawyer said.
“He thought the suspension started from the time he was apprehended and did not pay attention to the details. It was purely a miscalculation and he was surprised when he was apprehended.
“The offence is totally out of character and he has pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity,” he said.
Magistrate Michelle Hodgson fined Tomlinson $350 for the offence. He was not convicted.
“Driving while suspended is a serious offence and people are expected to obey the rules,”
Ms Hodgson said.
“It’s your licence, it’s your obligation to ensure you are on top of any correspondence which relates to your licence.”