Our solicitor Mr Elbob made an appearance on behalf of a male in his fifties at the Seymour Magistrates Court for fifteen breaches of the Heavy Vehicle National Law. The Accused had several significant priors before the Court for relevant offending including multiple critical risk breaches of the Heavy Vehicle National Law. The penalties for the charges before the Court carried a maximum fine of up to $17,240.00 per charge.
The accused accepted responsibility for his offending and entered a plea of guilty to the charges before the Court prior to engaging Mr Elbob to appear on his behalf.
Prior to the matter coming before the Court, Mr Elbob of our office advised the Accused that he was a significant risk of being sentenced to a community corrections order as a result of repeat offending over a short period of time and stressed the need for significant material in preparation for the plea of guilty. Mr Elbob encouraged the Accused to complete the Road Trauma Awareness Seminar and to obtain reference material from close friends.
When the matter proceeded before the Court, Mr Elbob highlighted to the Court the steps he had taken since his offending and made submissions as to the Accused’s reliance on his drivers licence. In response to the submissions made by Mr Elbob, the Court was agreeable to sentencing the accused to an adjourned undertaking of 12 months which included a condition that the accused complete a safe driver program with VicRoads and an aggregate fine of $4,000.00. The Court also did not make any order in relation to the Accused’s drivers licence.
This matter shows that it is worthwhile investing in quality representation even if you have already entered a plea of guilty.
