Students’ good character can’t prevent disqualification | Central Western Daily.
HIGHER School Certificate student Benjamin Alderton, described by the magistrate in Orange Local Court as a young man of exemplary character, has lost his licence for 12 months after crashing on White Rocks Road near Lewis Ponds and injuring an elderly man in December last year.
Magistrate Bruce Williams told the accused he was bound by the law to disqualify the 17-year-old and had no way of reducing the minimum disqualification period for negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm.
Mr Williams told Alderton, who is in year 12 at the Exclusive Brethren School in Orange and a house captain, he was to be congratulated for the high regard in which he was held by people who provided references to the court, including the victim who requested leniency saying he didn’t want to see a young man burdened with a criminal conviction.
In his client’s defence solicitor Mark Ireland told the court as a HSC student Alderton, who travels to Orange from Bathurst to attend school, was required to be at school outside normal core hours as part of his studies.
In evidence presented to the court police said Alderton was travelling below the speed limit of 80km/h on the White Rocks Road on December 12, just a few weeks after getting his licence on October 22, when he lost control on a bend and braked heavily. This sent the vehicle into a skid and it collided heavily with a Barina being driven by the victim in the opposite direction.
Police said they recorded skid marks of 21 metres at the crash site and the rear tyres of the vehicle were smooth and offered no traction on the road.
The victim, who broke his leg and had to undergo surgery to have a plate inserted at Orange hospital, faces a long rehabilitation period in a wheelchair, according to police.
Alderton’s father Gavin, in a statement tendered to the court, said his son had been on the road to pick up a pressure washer to help out with some cleaning at his school.
His father also emphasised to the court the importance of his son retaining his licence so he could attend daily Bible readings, gospel preachings and prayer meetings.
Mr Williams told Alderton despite his fine character he couldn’t escape being responsible for a serious accident.
Imposing the disqualification and a fine of $300, Mr Williams warned Alderton not to drive without a licence.
“Although I am sure you won’t be doing that,” he said.
