The man, who The Courier has chosen not to name, appeared in Ballarat Magistrates Court on Tuesday where he pleaded guilty to a string of charges stemming from the August 28 night when he had planned to “run into a pole” and kill himself. 

The court heard the man in his 40s, who had been drinking since 10.30am and had “too many drinks to count”, was seen driving erratically on the Western Freeway near Wendouree about 7pm. 

The victim in the matter had been flashing his lights at the accused in a bid to get his attention, before the accused pulled over and began to abuse the victim. 

Police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Pepe Brown said the victim, in a car with others, then fled the scene, while the accused followed. 

The court heard the victim and his friends pulled into a service station at Warrenheip and asked the employee to lock the door. 

The accused then arrived and began to abuse the victim before kicking the victim’s car and ripping off both side mirrors.

Intercepted and arrested by police a short time later, the accused said he “was in no state to be dealing with idiots” and had been driving on the freeway to attempt suicide. 

The man’s lawyer told the court his client had recently suffered a breakdown, had been extremely depressed and had been using antidepressants and alcohol on the day leading up to the incident. 

“He admits now that those people saved his life that night,” the lawyer said. 

Magistrate Kay Robertson expressed grave concern about the offending, adding the man should be “horrified at what happened”.

But Ms Robertson said the offending probably would not have occurred if not for the man’s mental state at the time. 

Sentencing the man to a 12-month community corrections order including unpaid community work, Ms Robertson congratulated him on seeking help for his mental state and drinking. 

“You’ve still got things to live for,” Ms Robertson said.

His licence was also cancelled and disqualified for three years.