Source : Perth Now news
A man accused of holding a toddler on his lap while the child steered has fronted court.
Jake Douglas Smith, 30, appeared in the Joondalup Magistrates Court on Friday charged with one count of reckless driving.
Mr Smith was charged after a video emerged online of a three-year-old behind the wheel of a Toyota HiLux at Alkimos, in Perth’s north, on September 11.
The child was allegedly filmed sitting unrestrained on the driver’s lap with hands on the wheel.
“Three-year-old driving a HiLux what a legend,” the video caption allegedly read.
Footage allegedly showed the child behind the wheel as the car swayed over the road, while the man laughed in the background.
“Oh s**t, go straight, straight!” the man allegedly said in the video as the small child held the wheel.
“Straight mate, go!”
The car continues down the residential street with the child turning the steering wheel as the man shouts instructions, before coming to a stop on the footpath.
Mr Smith’s bail was extended and the matter was adjourned until later this month so he could seek legal advice.
Outside of court, the Mr Smith told reporters he was “in talks with the best lawyer on Earth.”
“Would you like to know his name? Jesus Christ,” he said.
