Mitchell Geoffrey Roose, 27, sentenced over dangerous driving incident in Picton on September 9 last year

A Harvey man has been convicted after he drove a vehicle on the wrong side of the road with only three, bald tyres on, sending sparks up into the air. Mitchell Geoffrey Roose, 27, was sentenced at Harvey Magistrates Court on January 9 to one count each of driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, dangerous driving, not maintaining a vehicle in a safe condition and failing to display provisional licence plates after being convicted in his absence on October 6 last year. Police prosecutor Sgt John Seidner told the court at 9.30pm on September 9 last year, police received multiple reports of a Mitsubishi Triton driving along South Western Highway in Picton on the wrong side of the road and swerving repeatedly. One of the car’s tyres was missing, with observers seeing sparks fly from the vehicle. When police found the vehicle driving along Robertson Drive and put on their lights, the vehicle continued swerving, with Mr Roose sticking his hand out of the window and making a gesture with his middle finger. He later pulled over and told police he was wanting to get cigarettes. The three remaining tyres on the vehicle were bald, and one of the tail lights was missing. Mr Roose blew a blood alcohol reading of 0.182, and was also found to not have had his P plates displayed at the time of the incident. His defence lawyer told the court the missing wheel had come off, and that he could not recall making the comments about wanting to buy cigarettes. She told the court he was going to assist his then-partner who needed urgent help at the time of the incident. The claim was largely dismissed by Magistrate Benjamin Tyers. The defence said Mr Roose has ADHD and is an alcoholic, with his health damaged due to his drinking. In his sentencing remarks, Magistrate Tyers described Mr Roose’s actions as “extremely serious offending”. “It just beggars belief that you were doing that,” he said. “You ought to have not driven that vehicle.” Mr Roose was fined a total of $4100, ordered to pay prosecution costs of $137.50 and disqualified from driving for 18 months over the four offences.