Mother-of-six whose son, four, was filmed 'roof riding' on top of her car as she hit speeds of nearly 100km/h appeals against 'harsh' three-month driving ban
- Mother-of-six was unaware her four-year-old son was riding on roof rack
- Erica Shadforth, 36, drove at speeds of up to 100km/h on busy suburban roads
- She pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and not ensuring child was restrained
- Her lawyers plan on appealing the three month driving ban to support family
A mother-of-six whose four-year-old son was filmed on top of her car as she hit speeds of nearly 100km/h is appealing against her three-month driving ban.
Erica Shadforth drove with her son on the roof of her vehicle for 13km between Camillo and Piara Waters through Perth's eastern suburbs in January.
Appearing at Armadale Magistrates Court on Wednesday, the 36-year-old pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and failing to ensure a child was properly restrained.
Erica Shadforth (pictured) made headlines in January after shocking footage emerged showing her son on her car's roof wearing just a nappy as she drove through Perth's eastern suburbs
Despite there being no requirement to ban her from driving, Magistrate Steven Malley restricted her for three months.
Shadforth's lawyer Andy Matthews, plans on appealing the sentence stating 'unnecessary hardship on her family as she needs to get her kids to school', he told Nine News.
The mother-of-six told the publication she pleaded guilty because it was the right thing to do.
However, Shadforth did not expect the outcome and said it has left her and her family traumatised.
Shadforth made headlines in January after shocking footage emerged showing her son on her car's roof (pictured) wearing just a nappy as she drove through Perth's eastern suburbs
The court heard Shadforth placed the child in the driver's seat before going back inside her home, ABC News reported.
But when she returned, the four-year-old had moved and she presumed he was in the back seat, the court heard.
But in fact he had climbed out of the car and onto the roof.
The mother, who the court heard was under 'significant stress' at the time of the incident, had not noticed other motorists trying to alert her to what was unfolding.
Witnesses said they saw the boy lose his grip, before the mother stopped at a junction and put the boy back inside the car.
She was pulled over by police at a petrol station in Harrisdale.
Magistrate Steven Malley said Ms Shadforth's offences were 'just mind-boggling' and said the severity of the penalty was a necessary deterrent to others
Mr Matthews said the mother was looking after her six children alone because her husband was working in Broome.
He said his client had now tried to prevent such an occurrence happening again, by putting him in the back of the vehicle where he could not escape.
Magistrate Malley said Shadforth's offences were 'just mind-boggling' and said the severity of the penalty was a necessary deterrent to others.
'Seeing something like a four-year-old sitting on top of a vehicle is probably something that will stick in you memory for a long time,' the magistrate said.
'When you leave children in the car, you come back and count heads,' he told the mother.
- Perth roof rack ride: Mum faces dangerous driving charge over son's wild ride
- Mother of child filmed riding in car roof rack in Perth pleads guilty, banned from driving - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
- ‘Roof rack rider’: Mum who drove through Perth suburbs with son on roof fined, banned from driving | PerthNow
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