Australian actor Vince Colosimo will deny allegations that he was handed 169 traffic fines while having his license suspended.
The Wog Boy Forever star is accused of amassing a whopping $65,215 in unpaid fines dating back to 2012.
On Wednesday, Colosimo was embarrassed to leave Melbourne Magistrates’ Court by rushing down an alley to avoid a media pack.
Colosimo had pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of drugs and without a license and not telling police his real name.
He was convicted and fined again in the ugly 2021 incident during Melbourne’s tough Covid-19 lockdowns – adding a further $2500 to his growing tally of fines.
Actor Vince Colosimo is followed by reporters on William Street in Melbourne after walking away from court with another fine on Wednesday
Vince Colosimo waits with the other suspected crooks outside Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday
Colosimo (right) and Nick Giannopoulos at the Sydney premiere of Wog Boys Forever last month
Film and legal sources close to Colosimo have told Daily Mail Australia that the star disputes the number and total dollar value of the fines he allegedly handed out.
“I don’t even think it’s possible to issue that many fines…it sounds extraordinarily high to have that many fines,” a source said.
Colosimo had been in court on his widespread drug-driving charge, in which he posed as his twin brother when he was pulled over by police.
News of the unpaid fines appeared to surprise both Colosimo and his attorney, George Vassis, who quickly turned to address his client, who was seated behind him.
Prosecutor Bianca Moleta told the court Colosimo lost his license twice again by being penalized while being disqualified for fines incurred and imposed on him in recent years while his license was annulled.
“While he has not been charged, this reflects that the traffic camera office does not communicate substantially with Victoria Police, but these are recorded in his demerit history after his license was cancelled,” she said.
A source told Daily Mail Australia Colosimo claimed he didn’t issue the traffic fines himself because he loaned his Peugeot to a “mate”.
Colosimo and his legal team are said to be going through the fines to determine not only how they accumulated, but also who might have been behind the wheel and when.
Vince Colosimo took on a man as he entered court on Wednesday
Colosimo leaves Melbourne Magistrates’ Court, followed by reporters
On Wednesday, Colosimo’s attorney described his client as a dedicated family man who lived with his 19-year-old daughter and had an 8-year-old son.
“He takes his parenting role very seriously, he is deeply embarrassed,” said Mr Vassis.
The strain of Colosimo’s ongoing legal troubles is believed to be taking a dramatic toll on his young family.
“At the end of the day everyone has kids and families and you wouldn’t like what Vince and his family are going through,” a source said.
Ms Moleta said Colosimo did not fill out a single form to indicate he was not behind the wheel for the traffic offences.
“It’s annoying because his unlicensed status has been completely disregarded,” she said in court Wednesday.
Ms Moleta had urged the judge to at least place Colosimo under the court’s scrutiny via a municipal corrective order that would have assured him he had taken drug and driver training courses.
While Colosimo admitted to having spent some time at a South Australian rehabilitation clinic, he had not completed the program due to “work commitments”.
A source told Daily Mail Australia that Colosimo has taken serious steps to crack down on his use of illegal drugs.
A bundle of references was presented to the court showing Colosimo’s recent good character.
Colosimo hangs his head as he queues up outside Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday
Vince Colosimo played Alphonse Gangitano in the first and best Underbelly TV series
Vince Colosimo worked on Body of Lies alongside Leonardo DiCaprio. Sources claim the Australian didn’t do himself any favours
It’s puzzling how long Colosimo could fund a legal challenge to the fines while staving off a possible jail sentence if his drug-using conviction is appealed.
While he’s hot after two films, the actor has previously found himself working on construction sites to make ends meet.
On Thursday, Victoria Police spokeswoman Sergeant Megan Stefanec refused to rule out a possible appeal of Colosimo’s latest verdict.
“We cannot predict whether an appeal will be considered,” she told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday.
A decision on an appeal is likely to be made in the coming days, which would lead to a showdown in County Court of Victoria sometime next year.
Colosimo faces more immediate concern over revelations that Victoria Police are in the process of applying for an arrest warrant over the unpaid fines.
The court heard that Colosimo blamed his pal for the lion’s share of the fines.
Colosimo is understood to go on to claim that most notifications about the alleged breaches were sent to old addresses following multiple home moves and Covid-19 disruptions at Vicroads.
In March, former WAG Nadia Bartel was fined $1,100 after she was caught driving while she was suspended and failed to update her address with Vicroads.
The fashion designer told police she moved home in December 2010 and was unaware that her license was being suspended.
The letter was sent to the home she previously shared with ex-husband Jimmy Bartel.
