The Bentleigh man has been a carer for people with disabilities, worked in a nursing home, taught troubled youths in some of London’s toughest schools, and raised a family.

But driving at 196km/h on the Terang-Darlington Road near Kolora is not one of those right things.

The 42-year-old son of a policeman pleaded guilty in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court on Monday to one count of driving at a dangerous speed.

The court heard that on March 28 at 7.45pm, police radar clocked McDonald driving a silver Ford stationwagon at 196km/h.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Paul Harris said McDonald pulled over immediately after police began a pursuit and was “remorseful and co-operative”. 

McDonald told police he’d “thought he’d see how fast the car would go on a straight road … to relive my stupid youth”. 

When police pointed out what would have happened if something had gone wrong at that speed, McDonald replied “yes, I shouldn’t have done that to my family”.

McDonald, who travelled from Melbourne for the hearing, was supported in court by his family.

Defence counsel Tony Robinson described the incident as “a brain fade” and noted McDonald had previously been the first responder at the scene of a road accident.

“In his own words, this was ‘stupidity’,” Mr Robinson said.

It was noted that the road was dry, visibility was good and there was no other traffic around at the time of the offending, but Magistrate John Lesser said “anyone driving at that speed is at a significant risk”.

“Your chance of survival is reduced enormously (at that speed) and anyone near you is at huge risk,” Mr Lesser said. 

He cancelled McDonald’s licence for a year, ordered him to complete a safe driving program and fined him $3000.