Deep trouble for ‘doughnuts’

A father has lost his driver’s licence and been fined $2000 for “doing doughnuts” outside his children’s school north east of Geraldton. Students at Yulga Jinna Remote Community School in Murchison were unable to return to class during their lunch break, for fear of them being hit, due to the erratic driving of Robin James Graham, 38, at Peak Hill Community in September. Geraldton Magistrate’s Court heard Graham was revving excessively, doing burnouts and “doughnuts” in a Toyota Prado on the Peak Hill Community access road and mounting both the right and left road verges. A Department of Education spokesperson said students were kept inside their classrooms as a precaution and were supported by their teachers during the incident. They said the principal, Anne Shipway, worked with police and followed their advice to ensure the children’s safety while support and advice was also provided by the Midwest Regional Education Office. The police prosecutor told Geraldton Magistrates Court on Monday Graham had been involved in a family violence incident before for which he was facing additional charges of threats to kill in circumstances of aggravation, being armed or pretending to be armed in a way that may cause fear and common assault in circumstances of aggravation. Graham’s defence duty lawyer said he disputed the doughnuts were committed outside the school, but he was actually about 700m to 1km down the road. She said he was upset at the time and concerned his children were going to be removed from his care. Magistrate Chris Miocevich said it was a particularly bad case of dangerous driving. “Even if it wasn’t outside the school, it was close and there was the potential for people to get hurt,” he said. Graham pleaded guilty in October to dangerous driving and driving under suspension . Aisde from the $2000 fine and $130.50 in court costs, his licence was suspended for nine months for both offences. He had also previously pleaded guilty to the other three offences, which were adjourned for sentencing to December 11.