Driver avoids jail time | The West Australian

Ian CutlerGeraldton Newspapers A young man who drove dangerously, injuring three of his friends — two seriously — has escaped a jail term after they gave positive references for him in the

Geraldton Magistrates Court yesterday. Tyler John Millett, 21, was instead fi ned a total of $6400 and disqualifi ed from driving for 27 months. He pleaded guilty to two counts of dangerous

driving causing grievous bodily harm, one of dangerous driving causing bodily harm and one of driving with a blood alcohol content exceeding 0.8 on January 1 this year. The court was told

Millett had been driving his friends from the nightclub precinct, along Durlacher St and east along Johnston St when his Holden Commodore struck the kerb and a median strip just before 3am

on New Year’s Day. He lost control of the car and crashed into a Toyota Land Cruiser travelling in a westerly direction, which was stationary at the time. A man and a woman in the Commodore

received life-threatening injuries, and the man had to be fl own to Perth for treatment, while a second man had less serious injuries. Lawyer George Giudice said Millett had been “mistaken”

about his level of intoxication when he drove home that morning. He produced references from the two seriously injured friends, including the woman who was in the court with Millett’s family

to give him support. The male friend’s letter said Millett had visited him many times in hospital to offer help and fi nancial assistance while he recovered. Both Mr Giudice and prosecutor

Sgt Bev Smith said the circumstances of the case did not warrant a prison term. Magistrate Ed de Vries agreed, saying that although Millett had admitted driving 5-10km/h over the speed limit

the evidence did not indicate his driving showed “reckless disregard” of his passengers. “I strongly suspect alcohol consumption had impaired your judgment, and there is nothing suggesting

you were racing or behaving in a hoon manner,” he said. Mr de Vries granted Millett spent convictions on the two dangerous driving charges in view of his clean record. He was ordered to pay

costs of $122. IAN CUTLER GET THE LATEST NEWS FROM THEWEST.COM.AU IN YOUR INBOX. Sign up for our emails