Mathew Wingrave, 26, pleaded guilty in the Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday to a charge of careless driving.

Two witnesses spotted Wingrave perform a 30-metre burnout at 11.50pm on April 4 last year on the stretch of road next to Coles, before doing a u-turn and coming back around for a second burnout.

Police were in the area and heard the noise. The witnesses told them it was Wingrave who did the burnouts in his orange Nissan Pulsar.

Officers had been patrolling the area after numerous complaints about hoon behaviour in the preceding weeks.

Police attended Wingrave’s residence soon after where they saw oil on his car, which was then impounded.

In court on Tuesday, Wingrave claimed the witnesses had themselves performed burnouts in the oil and had only told police in an effort to avoid being charged.

“They were going to get impounded for the same thing,” he said.

“When they said it was me and not them, they got away with it.”

Wingrave said he was only driving through the area and did not lose traction with the road on purpose.

Magistrate Franz Holzer said if Wingrave contested the charge, he was likely to lose his licence. But if he chose to plead guilty, then he could keep it.

Mr Holzer said it was irresponsible behaviour.

“If there is some kind of hazard on the road… you’re a mug if you don’t slow down and take care,” he said.

“Your car could have gone into a pole, into a pedestrian – it happens every day.”

Wingrave was convicted and fined $500, with $79.50 in court costs.

He was allowed to keep his driver’s licence and does not need to complete a safe driver program.

His car remains impounded.