Court hears how danger driver was heard shouting woo-hoo, bumpy bumpy before crash
A danger driver who crashed in Sunderland while shouting “woo-hoo, bumpy bumpy bumpy, bumpy bumpy” should be ‘deported’ to Australia – his solicitor told a court.
But defence lawyer Alastair Naismith’s tongue-in-cheek words in relation to reckless motorist Kieron Monarch, 25, carried a serious message for magistrates.
He revealed Monarch, of Blyton Avenue, Ryhope Colliery, planned to move Down Under later this month to work in an Outback mine.
Mr Naismith told the South Tyneside court if a prison sentence was imposed – even one suspended – Monarch’s visa risked being revoked.
He urged them to move away from their guidelines and only fine his client, which would increase his likelihood of getting through passport control.
After detailing Monarch’s employment plans, Mr Naismith said: “It’s the reverse of what we used to do – I’m asking you to deport someone to Australia.”
Monarch spurted his bizarre words after losing control of his Audi A3 while changing in-car music and mounting a pavement in Newcastle Road on Friday, March 7 last year.
The unfazed offender then smashed into a parked vehicle – despite his passenger shouting out a warning
He pleaded guilty to a charge of dangerous driving and magistrates warned him the offence carried a prison term.
Prosecutor Christopher O’Brien said: “A road traffic collision involved the defendant’s red Audi. It mounted a pavement and collided with a stationary vehicle at speed.
“The dash cam footage shows the defendant clipping the curb while driving the car and proceeding along the pavement at 52mph at the point it collided with a parked car.
“It had accelerated from 37mph when it clipped the curb. A passenger warned the defendant about the upcoming vehicles.
“The defendant said, ‘Woo-hoo, bumpy bumpy bumpy, bumpy bumpy’. In interview he accepted that he was the driver.
“He said he had been changing his music on the dashboard. The defendant has no previous convictions.”
Mr Naismith told magistrates Monarch had already bought his airline ticket and secured work with a mining firm.
He added: “He has taken the decision to leave employment in this country and gain employment in Australia.
“All of your decisions today will have quite a big impact on this young man. You could look to fine.
“The imposition of a custodial sentence, suspended or otherwise, is likely to put a pause in place and leave him out of work and not able to pursue the career he has lined up.
“The dangerous driving is not the best, but it was a parked car and was empty, and no one was put in any danger by his manoeuvre.”
But magistrates failed to heed Mr Naismith’s call and jailed Monarch for 24 weeks, suspended for 18 months, with a £164 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.
Keith McIntosh, chair of the bench, told Monarch his rehabilitation from offending would be getting to Australia and starting a new career.
He added: “We don’t know what you’ve got to do to tell Australia. Common sense would say you tell the embassy.”