Jaidyn Scott De-ath, 20, of Bonner, pleaded guilty to not stopping under police pursuit, driving dangerously, speeding, dishonestly obtaining property by deception, driving with a cancelled licence and driving with an illicit drug in his system when he appeared in Goulburn Local Court by audio-visual link on Wednesdsay.

Police facts tendered in court said that on January 27 at 7.10am, officers were conducting speed enforcement duties on the Hume Highway near Marulan when they observed a black Holden Captiva, driven by De-ath, travelling at 127km/h.

Police followed, activating lights and siren, but at Narambulla Creek the car changed lanes and over took other vehicles. Police began a pursuit as the car sped up to 130km/h, then 142km/h, before continuing over taking traffic. The vehicle reached 170km/h at the top of Carrick Hill. Police set up road spikes at Run O Waters Creek as the vehicle travelled towards it at speeds between 135km/h and 178km/h.

The vehicle was travelling at 178km/h near the south Goulburn exit ramp. When De-ath spotted the first series of road spikes, he braked heavily and weaved around them. Police set up a further series of road spikes near the Old South Road at Yarra. De-ath again spotted these spikes and attempted to go around them, this time by driving off into the highway’s grassed median, but the vehicle clipped one of the spikes with its front left tyre.

As the car continued along the highway, again reaching speeds of 150km/h, rubber was seen flying through the air in its wake and grey smoke was coming from the tyre.

De-ath then slowed the car and pulled to the side of the road where police moved in and arrested him.

He was handcuffed, searched and drug-tested, finding a positive detection to cannabis.
Checks revealed his ACT driver’s licence had been cancelled and the car was also observed failing to pay for $45 worth of fuel at the Shell Service Centre at Sutton Forest.

Police described the driving as reckless, with De-ath risking his own life and the lives of others as well as a passenger in the vehicle.

In court, De-ath’s solicitor said his client had been in custody since the events and had received an offer to enter rehabilitation at Odyssey House.

“Given his young age, he should take this opportunity for rehabilitation,” the solicitor said.

“He does not have access such rehabilitation programs in prison.”

Magistrate Geraldine Beattie said the offences were sufficiently serious to warrant a custodial sentence.

“These offences were very serious. They involved a police pursuit, speeding and dishonestly obtaining fuel,” Ms Beattie said.

“On that day, January 27, you drove with cannabis in your system, during a weekend when police were undertaking Operation Safe Return on the highway.

“This was a time when families were returning home after holidays for the school year. As a result there was increased traffic on the roads.

“You drove at speeds of up to 178km/h when you are limited to 90km/h being a P-plate driver.
“The police were following you with the lights and sirens activated. It was obvious what you had to do.

“But instead, you overtook vehicles at speeds of 142km/h, 150km/h and 178km/h, floating between lanes one and two and not indicating.

“You then went around road spikes at both Run O Waters and Yarra, where you drove into the grassed area in the centre of the road.

“You kept going at 150km/h as rubber and smoke from the tyre were flying over other drivers.
“It was highly dangerous driving potentially endangering your own life, the life of your passenger and the lives of other road users.

“Your ACT driving record does not assist you. It shows a lack of regard for the authorities, as does this offence.

“You have been given opportunities in the ACT to overcome your drug issues and I agree you need rehabilitation, but you also need to recognise the horror of what you did. You need to have a long hard think about it.”

She sentenced De-ath to 18 months in prison, with a non-parole period of six months, after which time he would enter into rehabilitation. She also disqualified him from driving for a total of three years once he gets out.