A driver with a “shocking” criminal history who forced motorists off the road while fleeing police in a north-west Tasmanian town has walked free from court.
Benjamin Edward Bakes, 34, swerved into oncoming traffic multiple times and narrowly avoided several head-on collisions as he tore through Wynyard’s residential streets in September 2022.
Several drivers were forced to take evasive action to avoid crashing into Bakes, who was already disqualified from driving when he spotted police and took off at high speed.
One motorist had to pull over to avoid a head-on smash, while another was forced to swerve when Bakes turned right without giving way, ignoring a give-way sign.
The chase unfolded in a 60km/h zone around 11am, with heavy traffic and pedestrians nearby.
Justice Michael Brett described Bakes’ criminal record as “shocking” when sentencing him in the Supreme Court last month.
“Your driving was very dangerous and put a number of innocent lives at risk not to mention your own,” he said.
The court heard Bakes had been offending continuously since the age of 15, with a long list of serious traffic offences and several stints in prison.
Just a month after the Wynyard incident, he committed another dangerous driving offence while still disqualified.
Justice Brett spared him immediate jail time, noting his recent rehabilitation efforts – including completing a vocational course and showing a “high standard” of engagement with probation services.
“If you can successfully reform, then this will be the most effective way of protecting the community in the future,” he said.
Bakes was handed an 18-month suspended sentence, 175 hours of community service, 18 months’ probation and a one-year driving ban.
“… I warn you that if you decline to embrace it fully and in particular commit further offences then you can expect both the activation of the suspended sentences and the infliction of further punishment,” Justice Brett said.
“That will certainly be the case if you are brought back before me.”
