The case against Robert Pearce was adjourned to Lithgow Local Court tomorrow where Pearce is due to appear on another disqualified driving charge.
WHEN Robert Mackenzie Pearce was led in to the dock at Orange Local Court yesterday charged with driving while disqualified he was already banned from driving until 2027 for multiple similar offences.
Pearce had been in police custody since he was caught driving while disqualified for a sixth time in Orange at the weekend in the same week he was due to face Lithgow Local Court for driving while disqualified.
A failure to pay a fine has sent Pearce into a continuing spiral of being caught driving without a licence, according to Pearce’s legal aid solicitor Rodney Hunt who asked for his client to be released on bail but could only put up a surety of $1000.
“My client is a man of senior years who has moved to Orange for a new start in life and is hoping to get a job at the mine,” Mr Hunt said. “He also started a new relationship several months ago which was the reason for his move here.”
Relieving magistrate Michael Allen said Pearce’s record showed the accused had previously served time in jail for ignoring court rulings not to drive.
The court heard that last year from April to June Pearce had appeared in court every month on charges of driving while disqualified.
“The facts this time round are unremarkable, Mr Pearce was stopped for an RBT and found to be disqualified,” Mr Allen said.
The case was adjourned to Lithgow Local Court tomorrow where Pearce is due to appear on another disqualified driving charge.
Mr Allen said he was not prepared to grant bail as Pearce had flouted previous rulings by the court not to drive while disqualified.
