Last updated 12:40, May 29 2018
CHRISTEL YARDLEY/STUFF
Tyler Phillip Knolles, 22, was sentenced in the Hamilton District Court on Tuesday.
Tyler Phillip Knolles, 22, was sentenced in the Hamilton District Court on Tuesday.
A man caught hooning down the Waikato Expressway at 213kmh in his mother's Honda Civic just managed to avoid jail, but could not escape the ire of a district court judge.
"Go away and grow up," Judge Philip Connell told Auckland man Tyler Phillip Knolles, 22, when he appeared in the Hamilton District Court on Tuesday on charges of dangerous driving and driving while suspended.
It was about 7pm on Friday, February 16, when a police patrol spotted Knolles not far from Tamahere, travelling south at close to twice the posted speed limit of 110kmh.
He was pulled over by the police.
As the police summary of facts reveals, he told them he was "not really focussed" on his speed and that what he was doing "was comfortable for the car".
"Just how dumb does that sound now?" Judge Connell remarked.
Knolles' counsel Mitchell Staub said his client was remorseful and would change his ways when behind the wheel in future.
"Cars are his outlet," the lawyer said.
Staub urged the judge to impose a sentence of community work and supervision - an outcome Judge Connell deemed far too lenient.
"[His driving] is so bad it warrants imprisonment."
It was a fate Knolles only avoided by virtue that he was in full-time employment.
The judge also observed the Honda was registered in Knolles' mother's name, and he wondered how thrilled she was that her son had been giving her car such a thrashing.
"It's a Honda Civic. It goes fast, but what does it do to the motor when it is being abused like that?
"Do it on a race track," he told Knolles. "No-one has a problem with that. But not on the motorway where there is a limit of 110kmh ... It's a situation where you had no consideration for the other road users.
"It's a real concern given your age and very poor driving record."
Knolles had convictions for previous driving offences, including a sustained loss of traction in 2014, and careless driving and driving while disqualified in 2015.
Judge Connell sentenced Knolles to three months of community detention, 100 hours of community work and 12 months of supervision.
He was also disqualified from driving for 18 months.
Knolles' mother will also be issued with a warning under section 129B of the Sentencing Act, informing her that if her son commits another driving offence while behind the wheel of her Honda it will very likely be confiscated.