Serial drink driver could face jail time
The serial drink driver who knocked down and killed schoolgirl Jess Meehan, prompting tougher dangerous driving laws for WA, is behind bars after pleading guilty to yet more driving charges.
Mitchell Williams Donald Walsh pleaded guilty to a charge of driving while suspended, the latest in a shocking catalogue of driving offences which included the death of the 10 year-old.
She was run down by Walsh - then known as Walsh-McDonald - after she rode her bicycle into the path of his car in Clarkson on August 8, 2003. The primary schoolgirl died two days later.
In Perth Magistrate's Court today, Walsh admitted he had been driving a Toyota in Yokine in January this year, despite still being suspended from driving until 2015.
His excuse was that he had to get to a job as a plasterer, and the workmate who was supposed to be giving him a lift phoned in sick.
The explanation did not impress magistrate Joe Randazzo, who told Walsh there was an "extremely high likelihood" of him going to prison for the latest offence.
And ahead of a sentencing hearing in May, Walsh was remanded in custody after the magistrate said there was also a high risk of him not turning up in court to hear his fate.
He will be sentenced on May 28.
