A young P-plater who tore up a Launceston basketball court with his car has been caught up to by police, who arrived to find him allegedly hooning in another vehicle.
The 18-year-old was arrested in Royal Park on the outskirts of the city on Friday after reports he was hooning there, Senior Constable Christopher Rockliff said.
An investigation launched earlier this month revealed the teenager did several burnouts and doughnuts over a half-hour period in the Riverbend Park car park on July 10 before driving onto the basketball court, Rockliff said.
He is now facing charges of reckless driving, operating a vehicle in an unnecessary execution of sustained loss of traction and damage to property.
The blue Ford Falcon involved was also seized by police. Under planned laws currently being worked through by the state government, the car would likely be crushed.
“This particular individual has driven dangerously without any regard for his safety, the safety of his passenger, or the safety of people on the basketball court at the time,” Rockliff said.
“We have imposed bail conditions on this person to curb his behaviour up until a magistrate decides his penalty.”
“I thank the members of the public who have provided information to police which has led to us apprehending this offender and locating his vehicle.”
The teenager will appear in the Launceston Magistrates Court next month.
“I encourage anyone who witnessed the incident at Riverbend Park, including those on the basketball court, or anyone else with footage of a blue Ford Falcon hooning around Launceston, to make contact with police,” Rockliff added.
