A man who was followed by an erratic driver for more than 30 minutes while he was driving between Glenlyon and Trentham has said he feared for the safety of his one-year-old daughter and father.
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The victim made a witness statement at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Monday.
The accused, Mohammed Khaled Taleb, did not present at court and his case was heard ex parte.
The court heard Taleb followed closely behind the victim's car, drove on the wrong side of the road, attempted to cut him off and run him off the road multiple times during a 35 minute journey from Glenlyon to Trentham.
The victim told the court he first noticed a van driving close within a metre behind his car on Malmsbury-Daylesford Road.
The victim said his father and one-year old daughter were also in the car and he turned onto a dirt road in an effort to escape the following vehicle.
He said the accused drove in front of his car multiple times and came close to driving into the side of his car.
It is clear this man's mentality and his actions towards other drivers show that he is a menace on the road.
- Magistrate Leonard Brear
It is estimated Taleb followed the victim for around 25km until the victim pulled up outside of the Trentham Police Station.
The court heard Taleb and another person then got out of the car, yelling and screaming aggressively towards the victim and police.
"I had no idea why they were being aggressive," the victim said.
Taleb was charged with two counts of failing to keep left of a dividing line, one count of careless driving and one count of failing to keep a safe distance behind a motor vehicle.
Magistrate Leonard Brear sentenced Taleb, despite him nor a defence lawyer being present at court and without a plea being entered.
"It is clear this man's mentality and his actions towards other drivers show that he is a menace on the road," he said.
"From the behaviour in chasing this innocent victim for this period of time in this circumstance, it is pretty clear the accused ought not to be on the road.
"This behaviour is of a dangerous, intimidating nature and this gentleman needs to be off the road for a significant period of time."
Taleb was fined $2000 and was disqualified from driving for 24 months.
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