A 30-year-old man has appeared in court charged with reckless driving after a video allegedly showed a three-year-old steering a Toyota HiLux on a residential street in Perth.
Jake Douglas Smith appeared at Joondalup Magistrates Court on Friday over the footage, which was recorded at Alkimos, in Perth’s north, on September 11.
The child was allegedly sitting unrestrained on Mr Smith’s lap, with their hands on the steering wheel. The video caption allegedly read: “Three-year-old driving a HiLux what a legend.”
In the footage, the vehicle appears to sway across the road as the child turns the wheel. A man can be heard laughing before saying: “Oh s**t, go straight, straight!”
“Straight mate, go!” he allegedly adds as the car continues along the residential street before stopping on the footpath.
The video of the toddler driving the car later circulated widely on social media.
Mr Smith’s bail was extended and the case was adjourned until later this month to allow him to seek legal advice.
Speaking to reporters outside court, Mr Smith said he was “in talks with the best lawyer on Earth”.
When asked whether he would reveal the lawyer’s name, he replied: “Jesus Christ.”
