Driver filmed himself masturbating at 150km/h, court told
BY: PHOEBE STEWART - July 31st, 2008
A TERRITORY man filmed himself speeding at 150km/h while masturbating at the wheel of his drug-laden car, a court heard.
His Holden SV6 was allegedly laden with 5kg of drugs, including two cannabis plants resting on the back seat, the court was told.
Brenton Alan Erhardt, 39, was granted bail so he could marry his girlfriend of six months before he goes to jail.
Prosecutor Sergeant Melinda Edwards said in court the father-of-three told police he "had masturbated while driving" just before he was stopped for speeding on the 130km/h stretch of the Stuart Hwy.
"(He) also video recorded himself masturbating while travelling at a speed of 150km/h."
Sgt Edwards said Mr Erhardt - who was disqualified from driving - also told officers his act was "not dangerous" as the "only person he could hurt was himself".
Darwin Magistrates Court heard Mr Erhardt was stopped by NT police 25km south of Daly Waters on July 16 for allegedly speeding at 147km/h on his way home from Adelaide.
Police noticed he was "visibly agitated", and when they told him they were going to search his Holden sedan, he said "go right ahead", Sgt Edwards said.
It is alleged that officers found 4.96kg of cannabis hidden in a blue esky in the boot, two cannabis plants on the back seat, two drug pipes and a loaded .22 rifle.
Sgt Edwards said Mr Erhardt was arrested and told officers he had "found" the drugs at a rest stop 100km north of Coober Pedy, and he intended to smoke all of it at his Noonamah home.
Mr Erhardt also told police he had used the rifle to shoot "kangaroos from the vehicle whilst driving north".
The court heard the cannabis was worth $136,000 if sold by the gram in Darwin, or double that in indigenous communities.
Mr Erhardt applied twice for bail last week so he could get married before going to jail.
Magistrate Greg Cavanagh said it was "fanciful" Mr Erhardt had "just found" the drugs and that it looked like a "courier" run.
He granted Mr Erhardt $10,000 bail, and his father also posted a $8000 surety.
Mr Erhardt will face court again on September 1.
SOURCE: http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2008/0 ... tnews.html
