Patrick McCurley, who was disqualified from driving for more than 16 years for a series of serious driving offences, has won an appeal against the "crushing" ban.
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The 29-year-old made headlines when he and another remandee scaled three fences at the Alexander Maconochie Centre and escaped on the evening of September 3 last year.
McCurley was identified by police the following day driving a Suzuki Swift and they signalled for him to stop. He did not, and drove off, crossing onto the wrong side of the road on multiple occasions in an attempt to evade police.
He was found again at Duffy Shops and again accelerated away after being told to get out of the car. McCurley crashed into a log fence but continued driving with deflated tyres. He later crashed into a deep concrete culvert where he was arrested.
When he escaped from prison he was on remand on other traffic offences. Earlier in 2016, on April 12, McCurley drove an unregistered and unlicensed car, filled up its tank with petrol and then drove off without paying. He was a disqualified driver.
On June 23, he drove a car stolen from a primary school during pick-up and crashed it in Deakin. He was arrested but tried to escape. Tests showed the drug ice in his system.
McCurley pleaded guilty to 21 offences, mostly traffic crimes as well as the prison escape, and was handed a three year prison sentence with a non-parole period of two years.
He was also disqualified from driving for 16-and-a-half-years.
"I appreciate that that is a crushing disqualification period, but he has really lost the right to drive on the road," the magistrate said.
It was that latter part of the sentence that McCurley appealed against, arguing it was manifestly excessive.
On Wednesday in the ACT Supreme Court, Justice David Mossop agreed.
The judge reduced the period of disqualification by more than a third, to five years. McCurley must still apply to the ACT Magistrates Court before he can regain his licence.
Justice Mossop said while the behaviour was serious and warrants a significant period of disqualification, there is at least a possibility McCurley will leave prison and lead a "pro-social" life.
"The prospects of him doing so would be impeded if he is burdened with a period of disqualification which extends over the best part of his remaining working life," the judge said.
The possibility of regaining his licence, even though he would still have to convince the court it would be appropriate to have it returned to him after the disqualification period, would give him some incentive to abide by the law.
The dates of the disqualification period are yet to be decided.
