a judge conned

There was a story in the newspapers at the weekend – a court report – that really got up my goat.

It concerned a serial crim named Stephen Neale who admitted that his drink-driving record was “shameful”.

Neale has a truly shameful record of criminal offences on the road. Like driving at more than 50 kph over the speedd limit, breaching a suspended sentence and repeatedly driving while disqualified.

As recently as New Year’s Day He breached a two-month suspended sentence by driving while disqualified and driving with a blood-alcohol content of .127.

Earlier he had been arrested driving on a footpath with a blood-alcohol reading of .127.

In the past 25 years he has amassed 38 charges. He has been caught six times for drink-driving and nine times for driving while disqualified.

Last year Neale was sentenced to six months’ jail and disqualified again for five years.

His own lawyer, at a County Court appeal said his history was “disgraceful, shameful, and extremely embarrassing”.

And you know what? Judge Frances Millane overturned the jail sentence. That was bad enough. But the reason why incensed me.

His lawyer convinced the judge to overturn the jail sentence on the grounds that Neale’s Indonesian wife – who spoke little English  -- would be badly affected.

So what? He did it. What about the families of people who could have been killed by his drunk driving?  What about them?  Families of all crims suffer. And the criminals should think of that before they commit the crime.

This is bizarre. Does this mean that if I am a bank robber and my wife comes from Bosnia and doesn’t speak English then I should walk free?

Judge Millane you got conned.

Monday, January 23, 2006

©Copyright Derryn Hinch 2006