A MOUNT Gambier driver who led police on a 10km pursuit through the city’s streets walked away from court with a suspended prison sentence yesterday.
In addition to the charge of driving dangerously to escape police pursuit, Jed Whitfield, 29, faced five counts relating to an earlier incident where he rammed into the back of a car, before driving off “giving the driver the finger”.
Whitfield appeared in the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court where the prosecution told Magistrate Teresa Anderson the defendant was spotted by police exiting a service station on Jubilee Highway East on April 22 at around 3.40pm.
He was the sole occupant of a four-wheel-drive and was not wearing a seat belt.
Traveling in an unmarked police vehicle fitted with sirens and lights, officers attempted to pull him over.
However, Whitfield kept going along Tumut Drive, then onto North Terrace and Kennedy Avenue before following Worrolong Road to Riddoch Highway.
During the course of his escape, Whitfield broke the speed limit several times – up to an estimated 130kph in a 90kph zone.
Traffic came to a standstill as another police vehicle and officer tried to block his way without success.
Police eventually found the vehicle near Mil Lel.
The court heard Whitfield told police he knew he was driving unsupervised on L-plates, but that he did not stop because “he had things to do”.
Barely a week earlier, on April 15 at around 3pm, the defendant crashed his car into the back of another vehicle at a pedestrian crossing on Helen Street.
The female driver told police Whitfield dislodged his car from her vehicle and drove away displaying his middle finger.
An eyewitness helped the driver and gave Whitfield’s registration number to police.
When interviewed, the defendant admitted driving alone on a learner permit without displaying L-plates.
He said he was aware of his obligations, but people in the vicinity looked angry and he went to a friend’s house.
He pleaded guilty to all charges.
In handing down sentence, Magistrate Anderson told Whitfield “unfortunately there are far too many people driving like you”.
For the offending on April 15, Whitfield received two 75 hour community services terms – one to be completed in six months and the other in 12.
Regarding the April 22 offending, Magistrate Anderson took into account that Whitfield was “effectively a first offender”, claimed to have cannabis and alcohol issues and had been under work and relationship-related stress.
She sentenced him to nine months in prison, reduced to six months and nine days.
However, Magistrate Anderson suspended the sentence on condition of Whitfield entering into a $500, two year good behaviour bond, which would include a number of supervised programs.
In addition, he was disqualified from driving for two years.
