A WOMAN with a “whole collection” of driving infringements drove while suspended on several occasions because she disliked public transport, a court has heard.
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Kate McGregor, 37, faced Bendigo Magistrates Court on Monday over three incidents.
McGregor had been caught driving on the Calder Highway in Maiden Gully in November, at Kangaroo Flat while high on ice in January, and in February.
Defence lawyer Peter Baker said his client had bipolar and feared being assaulted or mistreated on public transport.
She had since taken the battery out of her car and given it to friends for safekeeping, the court heard.
Magistrate Richard Wright imposed a fine and McGregor will be unable to drive for 11 months.
In other court matters, Robert Norman Bellis appeared before Magistrate Wright after being caught doing donuts on a soccer pitch while drink driving.
The court heard Bellis, 25, drove his car onto the Kennington reserve with two passengers in November and spun the vehicle, ripping up grass.
An off duty police officer approached Bellis and turned off his car and his passengers fled the scene.
Mr Wright said while he did not have much affection for soccer, the actions were inappropriate and fined Bellis $2000 and ordered he “stay out of trouble” for six months.
Ryan Joseph Pontelandolfo was also fined and had his licence suspended for a month over a separate incident.
The court heard Pontelandolfo, 24, had run through a stop sign and driven at 130kmh last December while driving a work vehicle.
The car had was seized under hoon laws and his employer had to apply to court to have have it released.
Mr Wright said he “should be able to get one chance in life” when imposing the sentence.
Justin George Cook also admitted to his own stupidity after driving without a licence. He was fined $750.
