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Home / Lifestyle

Aussie bloke who turned his Hyundai into convertible pleads guilty

By Emily Cosenza/NCA Newswire
news.com.au·
13 Jul, 2021 09:45 PM2 mins to read

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Straya. Photo / Supplied/NCA Newswire

Straya. Photo / Supplied/NCA Newswire

An Australian man who sliced off the roof of his standard sedan to turn it into a convertible has admitted to breaking the law.

Adelaide man Joshua Dean Mathews, 25, was arrested in May this year after he ran a red light in front of a patrol car along Jetty Rd at Glenelg, in Adelaide's southwest.

Upon closer inspection, police saw the man had cut off the roof of the white Hyundai Excel to make it look like a convertible.

Sometimes you just want to feel the breeze in your mullet. Photo / SA Police
Sometimes you just want to feel the breeze in your mullet. Photo / SA Police

The Elizabeth Downs resident was charged with a string of offences, including breaching vehicle standards and maintenance requirements and failing to stop at a red light.

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He was further charged with driving without a licence and failing to comply with a bail agreement.

During his brief appearance in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday, Mathews pleaded guilty to all charges against him.

Once police looked closer at the vehicle, they realised the roof of the sedan had been sliced off. Photo / SA Police
Once police looked closer at the vehicle, they realised the roof of the sedan had been sliced off. Photo / SA Police

He made no comment as he left the court alongside his lawyer Con O'Neill but did hurl abuse towards media before his hearing.

"Why are you pointing that camera at me, mate?" he said.

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"How much does it cost? How would you feel if I smashed it on the ground?"

Joshua Dean Mathews threatened reporters outside Adelaide Magistrates Court before his brief appearance. Photo / NCA Newswire
Joshua Dean Mathews threatened reporters outside Adelaide Magistrates Court before his brief appearance. Photo / NCA Newswire

Mathews then said potential consequences of his threats were of no concern because he was "already going to jail".

On the night of the incident, police allege Mathews and the other occupants of the car verbally abused officers, before running the red light at about 1am on May 2.

The car, which had extensive damage to its rear, was pulled over along Douglas Grove in Glenelg North, where police made the bizarre discovery.

SA Police checks revealed Mathews had not held a licence for six years and had been ordered not to drive under bail conditions.

The car was towed from the scene.

Mathews is due to reappear in court in August.

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