Busselton man jailed for seventh driving disobedience

A Busselton father accused of attacking a man outside a Busselton bar has had his bail cut short after he was jailed for driving without a licence. Shayne David Pell, 33, pleaded guilty in Busselton Magistrate’s Court last week to driving without authority in November. The court was told the father of three had moved a friend’s car to a “safer parking spot” after they had decided not to drive home after a day of drinking. Pell, who was sober at the time, was seen by police. His licence had been disqualified two months earlier because of drink-driving — only three months after getting his licence back. It was revealed in court the conviction was his seventh for driving without authority, and he had been given two previous chances with a suspended imprisonment order in the past. Pell’s lawyer said he was the sole carer for his three daughters, who would have nowhere to go if he was imprisoned. Magistrate Michelle Pontifex sympathised with Pell’s family matters. However, she felt he had pushed his luck too far and ordered immediate imprisonment. “I accept the facts of the driving itself was not unduly aggravating, but what is aggravating in my view is you made the deliberate choice to do that knowing your licence was suspended at the time,” she said. “It was a deliberate act of disobedience and says to me that you would know that what you were doing at the time of this offence carries the risk of imprisonment. “Your record shows a disregard for the road rules, and in my view demonstrates you should be aware of the consequences. “It seems to me over the years you have continued the same pattern of behaviour.” Pell will spend the next seven months behind bars for his actions. The court was told Pell’s time in custody would be spent waiting for a trial for grievous bodily harm which he’s alleged to have committed the day after the driving offence. It is alleged he assaulted a 41-year-old man outside Albie’s Bar and Bistro, causing the victim to fall and strike his head. The man needed part of his skull removed because of his injuries.