A young Central Queensland motorbike menace has been given a jail sentence after members of the public dobbed him in to police more than once.
Kyle Shane Drage, 20, pleaded guilty in Biloela Magistrates Court on June 7 to two counts each of disqualified driving, driving an unregistered vehicle, and driving an uninsured vehicle.
Police prosecutor Jennifer Leach said the first three offences happened on Young St, Moura, on March 26.
Ms Leach said about 4.30pm on that day, members of the public informed police that Drage was riding a small dirt bike on the street with no helmet.
Police attended and found Drage, with checks revealing that his licence was disqualified by a court at the time and the dirt bike had never been registered, making it uninsured, Ms Leach said.
In relation to the second set of three charges, Ms Leach said on May 3, police were again notified by members of the public that Drage was riding the dirt bike on the Dawson Highway near Moura post office.
The court heard that this time, police viewed nearby CCTV footage which had captured Drage riding the bike.
The court was told that Drage had previous similar offending on his traffic history.
Solicitor Pierre Lammersdorf addressed Drage’s history.
“He’s only 20 years of age but has racked up a very concerning… traffic history, with greatest respect to my client, Your Honour, and he’s aware of that,” Mr Lammersdorf said.
Mr Lammersdorf submitted reasons why Drage should not receive a term of imprisonment this time.
“These are silly things to go to prison for,” Mr Lammersdorf said.
“I’ve warned my client that in no uncertain terms, if the dirt bike is still being used after sentence here today, he will definitely be going inside (jail), Your Honour – he won’t have any certainty regarding his release either because he would likely be on parole.”
Mr Lammersdorf said Drage, who was supported in court by his partner of about three years, had a limited education having been schooled to Year 9.
The solicitor said Drage had previously done turfing work but he was currently on Jobseeker Allowance and looking for labouring employment.
Before handing down penalty, Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale told Drage he could not ignore, and continue to ignore, court orders.
Ms Beckinsale also said: “And I’m presuming there’s something about the way you were driving for members of the public to ring the police.”
Ms Beckinsale sentenced Drage to six months’ jail with immediate parole release.
Drage was also disqualified from driving for two years.