A disqualified driver who tried to swim away in the Molonglo River after driving at a police officer on a motorbike has had a 43-month jail term suspended after already serving about eight months.
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In a recent ACT Supreme Court judgment, Michael Seymour pleaded guilty to driving at police, aggravated dangerous driving on two occasions, driving while disqualified and driving under the influence of drugs.
Just after midnight on October 16 last year, Seymour, 29, was driving a Ford station wagon in Holt when police saw him and activated their lights to get him to stop.
A pursuit ensued with Seymour travelling nearly 2-3 times the speed limit in a number of areas, including 170km/h in an 80km/h zone for 5.5km, and driving on the wrong side of the road.
The police had to terminate the pursuit for safety reasons.
When Seymour reached Macquarie, a police officer riding a motorbike followed him because he did not turn his car lights on and was travelling about 10km/h above the speed limit.
Seymour, who was disqualified only one month prior, then sped away, blowing smoke and triggering the officer to speed up to keep in touch with him.
The offender, who police previously said was from Queanbeyan, then used his handbrake to do a 180-degree turn then sped directly towards the officer, missing him only by about five metres.
The officer had to take evasive action by driving onto the median strip.
The officer then pursued Seymour, who was speeding at nearly twice the speed limit again, along Bindubi Street.
Seymour's reckless driving only came to a halt when he crashed against a guard rail before police found him swimming in the Molonglo River nearby.
A blood test showed he had methylamphetamine in his system.
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In his victim impact statement, the motorbike officer said he was the victim of a similar incident less than one month later.
He referred to the horror his family felt when he told them of the incident and the regular stress they place on his wife.
Acting Justice Richard Refshauge said Seymour had been driving at "highly dangerous, excessive speeds" that exposed the motorbike officer "to significantly more danger" than if he had been in a car.
Acting Justice Refshauge said while there was no contact between Seymour's car and the officer, that was largely due to the latter's "skilful driving".
"Obviously, this is a serious offence because of the risk to which it exposes other road users," he said.
"Even one person is too many to be exposed to risk, but clearly the more persons exposed, the more serious the offence."
The judge said Seymour's speed was an aggravating factor, but the overall offending during an 18-minute window and limited traffic meant it attracted a less serious penalty.
The suspended jail term until May 2024 was made as part of a drug and alcohol treatment order.
Seymour also breached a good behaviour order and was disqualified from holding a driver licence for 12 months.
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