A former high-flying actual property govt is free to get behind the wheel once more after he stole a taxi and drunkenly drove it via the town in a transfer that turned the ‘discuss of the city’.
Brett Henson had been making an attempt to get into the silver cab after an evening of consuming at 9pm on November 4, 2022 when the door deal with broke and he fell backwards.
The 44-year-old claimed in courtroom the taxi driver, Sayeed Ali Khan, tried to ‘extort’ cash from him for the automobile deal with earlier than he was set upon by a bunch of 5 males.
He advised the courtroom that the lads, who have been all ‘a lot larger’ than him, advised Mr Henson they have been the ‘Muslim brotherhood’. Henson mentioned he noticed the taxi theft as his ‘solely possibility’.
Former Mirvac actual property govt Brett Henson (pictured) is free to get behind the wheel once more after he stole a taxi and drunkenly drove it in a transfer that turned the ‘discuss of the city’
Nonetheless, Justice of the Peace Gregory Moore rejected his claims and located him responsible of taking and driving a automobile with out the proprietor’s consent and driving drunk.
On Monday, he advised Sydney Downing Centre Native Courtroom that Henson’s actions ‘can’t be excused’ by his perception he was being pursued.
The Justice of the Peace famous Henson had been ‘unsteady on his toes’ within the lead-up to the offending, which he mentioned was ‘removed from trivial’.
‘The taking of the taxi was opportunistic and little question alcohol consumption performed a job,’ he mentioned.
‘There must be a message despatched to the offender and others that this behaviour is unacceptable.’
The courtroom was advised Henson beforehand struggled with alcohol dependancy that had been exacerbated by the stress of his job.
He was a senior capital transactions supervisor for property growing big Mirvac on the time of the alleged offence, however his lawyer Paul McGirr mentioned he has not labored in 20 months.
Brett Henson had been making an attempt to get into the silver cab after an evening of consuming at 9pm on November 4, 2022 when the door deal with broke and he fell backwards.
He mentioned his consumer had been ‘properly revered’ within the property trade earlier than he dedicated the offences, however ‘, he cannot get a job’.
‘The problem he is discovered when going for jobs is if you Google his title … (the taxi theft and drink-driving) come up,’ Mr McGirr mentioned.
‘It is the discuss of the city.’
Mr McGirr mentioned his consumer had suffered extra-curial punishment as a result of media protection of his drunken offences, however he was making an attempt to get again into the property trade.
‘He is actually been via the wringer on this … as has his household,’ he mentioned.
‘That is so remoted and so distinctive for somebody who’s by no means been on the radar earlier than.’
Mr Moore agreed the publicity and Henson’s prolonged driving suspension amounted to a penalty and asserted he was an individual of prior good character who had good prospects of rehabilitation.
He convicted Henson of each offences and fined him $3500.
Brett Henson (pictured left) was convicted of of each offences and fined $3500. He was additionally banned from driving for 15 months from his arrest in November 2022, that means he’ll be capable to drive once more instantly
The previous Mirvac govt was additionally disqualified from driving for 15 months from the date of his arrest in November 2022, which suggests he’ll be capable to drive once more instantly.
Outdoors courtroom, Mr McGirr reiterated that Henson had ‘acted below duress as a result of he’d been attacked’.
‘In hindsight, he most likely ought to have taken a greater choice to both run or attempt to get his cell phone out and ring the police,’ he mentioned.
‘However he needs to place this behind him now and get again to work.’
Henson has determined to not enchantment the convictions or the fines handed down on Monday.
‘He simply needs to maneuver on together with his life and hopefully not be on the information or within the paper once more,’ Mr McGirr defined.
