THEY were the photographs that turned a "bit of fun" into a court date for Mareeba teenager Jake Wright, thanks to the power of social media.

He does not regret allowing the pictures to be taken, which allegedly show him towing his wakeboarding mates behind his ute along Freshwater Rd in the aftermath of ex-Cyclone Oswald last month.

Yesterday, Mr Wright (pictured) appeared in the Cairns Magistrates Court for the first time on one charge of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and did not enter a plea.

Outside court, the 18-year-old told The Weekend Post he was bewildered at the turn of events since the pictures were taken by a Cairns photographer who later put them on Facebook.

"We were just making fun for ourselves," he said.

Unfortunately for Mr Wright, his number plate was clearly visible in the photographs and he was charged on January 25.

He said his friends found it hard to believe he was facing court over the lads' day out.

"They are not very happy about it, that their mate is losing their licence," he said.

Mr Wright said he intended to fight the charge if he could.

"I just have to sort it out with my solicitor and see where things go from there," he said.

The court heard his Mareeba-based solicitor had made submissions to police, but needed a further three weeks for a response.

The matter was adjourned until March 8.

The photographs are still going strong on social media, having been shared on both Facebook and Twitter with the words "meanwhile in Australia" superimposed on them.

Cairns police have argued the incident may have seemed harmless, but it could have had potentially dangerous consequences.

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