By David Kavanagh | posted on October 18, 2019
A MAN caught driving at nearly 80km/h above the speed limit on the South Coast Highway in April was rushing to recover his lost wallet, the Albany Magistrates Court has been told.
Denver Warrick Swainston pleaded guilty to charges of reckless driving exceeding the limit by 45km/h and providing false details to police when he appeared before Magistrate Raelene Johnston last Thursday.
Speed cameras captured Mr Swainston driving his Holden Commodore utility at an approximate speed of 188km/h in a 110km/h zone in Marbelup at 6:29pm on April 20.
The 35-year-old’s defence counsel Wendy Stewart said her client, who had been homeless and “living rough” at the time the incident occurred, panicked when he realised he had lost his wallet.
“He had $2000 in that wallet and that was all the money he had,” Ms Stewart said.
“He wasn’t thinking about the speed, he was thinking about the cash … This was a one-off offence for him.”
Magistrate Johnston noted Mr Swainston had been previously convicted for driving offences.
“This charge can bring with it a term of imprisonment and that reflects the seriousness of the offence,” she told the accused.
“You were travelling way above the speed limit. There is no justification or excuse.
“You should have been worrying about your life and the lives of other people on the road.”
Mr Swainston was fined nearly $2000 for the driving offence and for giving a false address when police pulled him over for unrelated matters on Albany Highway on September 6.
He also had his license disqualified for six months.
