Teenage tearaway P-plater Grant Leth didn't have a care in the world as he and his four young passengers hurtled along the F6 at 191km/h on their way to a concert in Sydney last month.But their big day out in his family's 2004 silver C200 Mercedes Kompressor had an unexpected ending when Highway Patrol officers clocked his speed as part of Operation Safe Roads on January 22, just south of Helensburgh.The 19-year-old (pictured) from Tomakin, south of Batemans Bay, actually increased his speed from 188km/h as police used the radar on the 110km/h stretch of highway. EDITORIAL: Prison might be only way to slow P-platersDuring a brief pursuit, Leth turned onto the Helensburgh off-ramp and then headed south down the Old Princes Hwy.When police finally managed to pull him over, Leth calmly told them that he had been driving fast because he had wanted to "get some airflow through the car because it was hot".There were no P-plates displayed on the vehicle and his P1 licence only entitled him to travel at a maximum of 90km/h. Leth admitted to police that he had been trying to get away from them when he turned onto the Helensburgh off-ramp.In Wollongong Local Court yesterday Leth pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, while a second charge of exceeding the speed limit by more than 45km/h was withdrawn by police.The court heard that Leth had lost his licence in 2008 for exceeding the speed limit by 45km/h."One might wonder what you learnt from the past. Would it take a crash and the loss of friends? Is that what it takes to get the message through to you?" magistrate Ian Guy asked."The potential for danger driving at 191km/h, given your inexperience, is immense."This was an extraordinary disregard of your responsibilities to the community."His comments come amid growing concern at the high number of fatal and serious injury accidents involving P-plate drivers.So far this year, there have been 20 P-plate drivers killed on NSW roads and there have been calls for mandatory brain testing of all would-be young drivers to stop immature teens getting a provisional licence."There needed to be a strong element of deterrence for you and others like you when determining sentence and despite your age and guilty plea this matter requires a period of imprisonment," the magistrate said.He sentenced Leth to 12 months' weekend jail, with a six-month non-parole period and disqualified him from driving for three years.Outside the court, Leth's solicitor Wayne Boom said he believed his client realised he needed to be taught a lesson, but a jail sentence may ruin his life."The sentence is a message that all young P-plate drivers should heed," he said.
Grant Leth outside court after he was sentenced to 12 months' weekend detention.
Teenage tearaway P-plater Grant Leth didn't have a care in the world as he and his four young passengers hurtled along the F6 at 191km/h on their way to a concert in Sydney last month.But their big day out in his family's 2004 silver C200 Mercedes Kompressor had an unexpected ending when Highway Patrol officers clocked his speed as part of Operation Safe Roads on January 22, just south of Helensburgh.The 19-year-old (pictured) from Tomakin, south of Batemans Bay, actually increased his speed from 188km/h as police used the radar on the 110km/h stretch of highway.
EDITORIAL: Prison might be only way to slow P-platersDuring a brief pursuit, Leth turned onto the Helensburgh off-ramp and then headed south down the Old Princes Hwy.When police finally managed to pull him over, Leth calmly told them that he had been driving fast because he had wanted to "get some airflow through the car because it was hot".There were no P-plates displayed on the vehicle and his P1 licence only entitled him to travel at a maximum of 90km/h. Leth admitted to police that he had been trying to get away from them when he turned onto the Helensburgh off-ramp.In Wollongong Local Court yesterday Leth pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, while a second charge of exceeding the speed limit by more than 45km/h was withdrawn by police.The court heard that Leth had lost his licence in 2008 for exceeding the speed limit by 45km/h."One might wonder what you learnt from the past. Would it take a crash and the loss of friends? Is that what it takes to get the message through to you?" magistrate Ian Guy asked."The potential for danger driving at 191km/h, given your inexperience, is immense."This was an extraordinary disregard of your responsibilities to the community."His comments come amid growing concern at the high number of fatal and serious injury accidents involving P-plate drivers.So far this year, there have been 20 P-plate drivers killed on NSW roads and there have been calls for mandatory brain testing of all would-be young drivers to stop immature teens getting a provisional licence."There needed to be a strong element of deterrence for you and others like you when determining sentence and despite your age and guilty plea this matter requires a period of imprisonment," the magistrate said.He sentenced Leth to 12 months' weekend jail, with a six-month non-parole period and disqualified him from driving for three years.Outside the court, Leth's solicitor Wayne Boom said he believed his client realised he needed to be taught a lesson, but a jail sentence may ruin his life."The sentence is a message that all young P-plate drivers should heed," he said.
