Former NRL dangerous John Hopoate has failed in a bid to overturn his licence suspension with a court docket being instructed he had been suspended 13 instances.
Earlier this 12 months, the previous Manly Sea Eagles premiership winner was hit with a $1000 high-quality and suspended from driving for 12 months after pleading responsible to 1 rely of driving a motorcar whereas his licence was suspended.
On Tuesday, Hopoate, wearing ripped denims, a white costume shirt and a pink vest, appeared inside Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court docket to enchantment the severity of his sentence.
Throughout a listening to within the Manly Native Court docket earlier this 12 months, the court docket was instructed he claimed he was not conscious his licence had been suspended on the time.
His solicitor Feddy Kak on Tuesday instructed Choose Paul McGuire that Hopoate had been suspended for 3 months however was below the assumption the suspension had lapsed.
Mr Kak mentioned Hopoate’s suspension concluded in November final 12 months, however one other was imposed on December 27, and he was not conscious when he drove in January this 12 months.
The court docket heard the offence arose out of an alleged street rage incident.
“He didn’t know he had been suspended at the moment,” Mr Kak instructed the court docket.
Mr Kak requested that Choose McGuire impose no conviction and sentence his consumer to a conditional launch order, saying he had a “important” want for a licence.
The court docket was instructed that Mr Hopoate had a seven-page lengthy visitors file and even after one suspension was lifted in November 2023, he incurred additional visitors offences for rushing and utilizing his cell phone
Choose McGuire famous he had a “poor” visitors file which included 2007 and 2012 convictions for driving whereas suspended.
And the Crown prosecution argued there was “no advantage” in his enchantment given he had been suspended from driving 13 instances.
Choose McGuire mentioned Hopoate’s sentence was not lenient given his “horrible” driving file and he dismissed his enchantment.
“I’m not satisfied that Mr Hopoate being fined $1000 and disqualified for 12 months was manifestly extreme. It seems to be not extreme in any respect,” Choose McGuire mentioned.
Throughout his enjoying profession Hopoate was a NSW and Australian consultant nevertheless he was tormented by controversy.
In 2001 he was suspended for 12 weeks for poking his finger within the buttocks of three opposing gamers.
Then his enjoying profession prematurely resulted in 2005 when Manly tore up his contract after he was suspended for 17 video games for elbowing Cronulla’s Keith Galloway within the head.
