Court waives fines for Vince Colosimo

Actor Vince Colosimo has had $58,000 of fines discharged by the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court after the court heard he was financially destitute and mentally unwell.

The Underbelly, Wogboys and Celebrity Apprentice star had accrued 169 unpaid infringements composed mostly of toll fines, driving offences, speeding and more than $30,000 in additional charges, the court heard.

The Age reports Victoria Legal Aid chief counsel Julia Munster told the court that Colosimo had been diagnosed with ADHD, anxiety and depressive disorders, which he had been suffering for a decade, and was financially destitute with no assets other than a $5000 car and a bike.

The court accepted that Colosimo, who appeared via video link, has a mental impairment disorder sufficient to impede his ability to comply with their payment.

But Colosimo will still have to pay $3858.60 through 101 hours of community work over a period of 12 months.

He had been volunteering at bullying prevention charity Bully Zero Australia Foundation, where he had been helping out for six hours per week for the last six weeks. He has also been seeing a psychologist.

None of the evidence put forward by Colosimo’s defence was challenged by lawyers from the Sheriff’s Office.

Colosimo was facing possible jail time over the unpaid fines, however the magistrate found this would be burdensome and deleterious to his efforts to improve himself.

Under Victoria’s Fines Reform Act, a magistrate may throw out unpaid fines for a number of reasons, including if they are satisfied the person has a mental or intellectual impairment or falls into special circumstances.

Additional source: news.com.au, ABC