A Mudgee truck driver who hit a cyclist between Bathurst and Lithgow in 2011 was sentenced in Mudgee Local Court last Wednesday.

Robert Graham Hughes, 43, of Denison Street, Mudgee, was placed on a 18 month good behaviour bond and disqualified from driving for 12 months.

At 6.05pm on Friday, October 12, 2011, Hughes was driving a prime mover along the Great Western Highway at Yetholme when he hit a cyclist.

It caused a compound fracture to the cyclist’s upper arm that required surgery to insert a plate and screws.

Hughes was charged with Negligent driving (occasioning grievous bodily harm).

His legal-aid solicitor Ms Jackson told the court that her client didn’t see the cyclist because he was struggling to see while driving into the sunset and keeping an eye on the centre lines of the road.

She said he’d heard “a clunk” which when he stopped he realised was the cyclist.

‘You either had a late night or an early morning’

A 49-year-old man made a memorable appearance in Mudgee Local Court last Wednesday when he faced the charge of cultivating a prohibited plant.

Eric Matthew Field was charged after police found eight small cannabis plants in his Perry Street residence on Monday, November 19.

He represented himself in court and when he stepped up to the microphone Magistrate Michael Allen commented, “Mr Field you look like you either had a late night or an early morning”.

He fined Field $200 plus court costs of $83 and ordered that the cannabis plants be destroyed.

However Field had his own theory, “they’ll probably smoke ‘em anyway,” he said.

This drew a smile from Magistrate Allen who said, “I can assure you that won’t happen”.

The solicitor for the next matter before the court was Richard Wise who opened with the disclaimer; “Sorry your Honour but I can’t match that level of entertainment”.

Poor conduct in front of plain clothes police

A 26-year-old man was fined a total of $1300 plus court costs of $83, had his licence suspended for 12 months and must complete 100 hours community service, for two separate driving incidents last year.

Karl James Maranda pleaded guilty to the charges in Mudgee Local Court last Wednesday.

At about 2.30am on Sunday, April 15, outside the Waratah Hotel, Mudgee, Maranda drove dangerously into Mortimer Street and stopped, in front of plain clothed police officers.

He extended his middle finger at them from the window of the car before getting out and attempting to stand over the officers.

They used capsicum spray on Maranda, and his legal-aid solicitor told the court that it was at that point he realised that they were police.

A struggle ensued before he was taken to Mudgee Police Station where a blood alcohol reading of 0.126 was recorded.

The second incident occurred on Friday, May 18, when police were called by a person in Gulgong who witnessed Maranda doing a burnout at an intersection.

Police found the car and found that it was unregistered, had number plates from a different vehicle and that Maranda’s P1 licence was suspended.

In sentencing Magistrate Michael Allen said, “you are a person who frequently finds himself in trouble with the police and that is worrying,” he said.

“He is very lucky he didn’t kill himself”

An 18-year-old man who rolled the car he was driving and left the hospital before a blood sample could be taken was fined and disqualified in Mudgee Local Court last Wednesday.

Alexander Jorgen Ringsing of Cope Road, Gulgong, was driving along Henry Lawson Drive at around 2.55am on Saturday, September 29, 2012, when he lost control, slid sideways, hit a tree and flipped back onto the road.

He called 000 and was taken to Mudgee District Hospital but left after he was told they would have to take a sample of his blood.

In court Ringsing pleaded guilty to negligent driving and failing to allow sample of blood to be taken.

His solicitor Allan Hogan said that his client has trouble remembering the exact details of the accident.

And that a fear of needles was the reason he refused having the sample taken, “he wasn’t avoiding what the blood test would show,” he said.

However, Police Prosecutor Sergeant Brett Donaghy said Ringsing had a number of tattoos and that “one would think that someone with a phobia of needles wouldn’t be able to sit there and be tattooed”.

He was fined a total of $750, ordered to pay court costs of $83 and disqualified from driving for six months.

Although Magistrate Michael Allen said that it was a “serious accident” and that the situation could be much worse for Ringsing.

“He  very lucky he didn’t kill himself,” he said. “And is able to walk into the court today.”

Sentenced for two offences

A 62-year-old man has been sentenced for a drink driving offence committed in November last year and for another from 2005 that he failed to front court for.

Stephen John Thurling of Gladstone Street, Mudgee, did make it to Mudgee Local Court last Wednesday.

At about 1.15am on Saturday, November 25, 2012, police stopped Thurling driving down the middle of Mortimer Street, a breath analysis produced a reading of 0.145.

His licence was also expired and the vehicle was unregistered and uninsured.

Thurling’s solicitor Richard Wise told the court his client was driving his ute two blocks to his home because he didn’t want to risk having his tools stolen from it.

The incident also meant that another mid-range drink driving charge from 2005 that Thurling failed to appear in court for was re-listed.

On that occasion - May 8, 2005 - he was stopped by police on Werombi Road in the Greater Western Sydney area and produced a breath analysis of 0.125.

Solicitor Richard Wise said, “it’s a case of his past catching up with him seven years down the track”.

Thurling was fined a total of $1550 plus court costs of $166, disqualified from driving for 12 months and placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond.

In sentencing Magistrate Michael Allen pointed out that Thurling has a history of drink driving offences spread out since the 1970s.

“You’ve got a problem with alcohol,” he said.

“And an incapacity to realise you can’t drink and drink, which becomes a problem for the community.

“If you come back before this court you face some form of custodial sentence if not a fulltime jail sentence.”

Charged with stealing alcohol

Two men charged with stealing alcohol from a store in Baradine were sentenced in Mudgee Local Court last Wednesday.

Corey Anthony Wright, 22, of Cohen Street, Mudgee, was in court when he was fined $300 and ordered to pay court costs of $83 and $48.90 in compensation.

While Max Ernest Wright, 20, also of Cohen Street, Mudgee, failed to appear and was convicted in his absence and fined $300 ordered to pay court costs of $83 and $84.83 in compensation.

The pair were filmed on CCTV footage shoplifting from Baradine IGA Liquor on Thursday, October 11, 2012.

Corey Wright stole two 375ml bottles of Bunderberg Rum, while Max Wright stole a 700ml bottle of Johnnie Walker Red Label and returned later to steal a 700ml bottle of Jim Beam Black Label.

The court heard that Corey Wright was intoxicated at the time of the offence.

In sentencing Magistrate Michael Allen said “you are getting into a lot of trouble” and told him he needs to find a focus.

“If there is any advice from the court it’s to put all your effort into finding employment,” he said.

“You’ll feel a lot better about yourself if you’re getting up and going to a job and coming home each day.”

Fined for intimidation

A former Gulgong man was fined $500 and ordered to pay court costs of $83 when he was sentenced in Mudgee Local Court for intimidation.

At about 1am on Thursday, December 6, Todd William Lasham, 25, was at the house that he’d recently moved out of.

His former roommate asked him whether he’d damaged the door of the house and left it open when he was moving out.

This angered Lasham who became argumentative and threatening towards the victim.

He was charged with Stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm.