P-plater speeds away from police to help girlfriend

By Grace Carter

Jan 14, 2025

A Shepparton P-plater who was driving more than 30km/h over the speed limit has faced court.

A Shepparton P-plater was driving more than 30km/h over the speed limit to get to his girlfriend, a court heard.

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Zin Ali, 24, of Shepparton, pleaded guilty in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court to driving at a dangerous speed and driving without P-plates.

Prosecutor Senior Constable Ethan Hamill said Ali was driving at 105km/h in a 70km/h zone with no P-plates on the front or back of his car on the Hume Hwy, Campbellfield, on November 27, 2022.

The court heard he switched between the right and middle lanes multiple times overtaking other vehicles, before speeding away from a police car.

Ali told police his girlfriend had overdosed and he was rushing to get to her.

However, there had been no ambulance dispatch call, Sen Constable Hamill said.

Representing himself in court, Ali said his girlfriend’s friend had called 000 after an accidental overdose; however, he had no medical records to give the court.

Magistrate Amina Bhai said Ali’s concerns for his girlfriend wouldn’t have been much of a consolation if he’d injured someone.

Ali was fined $350 and his licence was suspended for six months.