A MOUNT Gambier man has pleaded guilty to a range of driving-related charges after being involved in a dangerous police pursuit across the city earlier this year.
Luke Forster, 26, appeared in the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court via video-link yesterday facing several charges including aggravated serious criminal trespass and driving to escape police pursuit.
Forster was arrested on April 30 after crashing his car at the Commercial Street West and Sutton Avenue roundabout while trying to flee police.
The incident occurred at around 8.44am, after a vigilant member of the public called police to Perriam Street after Forster – who was seated in a parked Mazda sedan – was spotted loitering in the area.
A member of the public was able to provide a registration number and checks on the car revealed it had been stolen from a break-in on Umpherston Street sometime between midnight and 5am on April 30.
Patrols cordoned the area in an attempt to block the Mazda from exiting the suburban street, but it drove away crashing into two police vehicles.
Patrols pursued the car for a short time throughout the western outskirts of the city.
The car then travelled back towards the city on Commercial Street West where police attempted to stop it using spikes.
As the car entered a roundabout at the corner of Commercial Street West and Sutton Avenue it lost control and crashed into a gutter.
Forster attempted to flee the scene but was quickly arrested by a Probationary Constable who was two hours into his first shift.
In yesterday’s hearing the court heard the defendant committed the crime while serving a suspended sentence.
Along with charges associated with the driving matter, Forster pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to comply with a suspended sentence bond for not attending compulsory appointments and committing the drug-fuelled driving crime.
The defendant’s lawyer made an application for Forster to be assessed for a treatment intervention program during yesterday’s hearing.
Magistrate Anderson interpreted the application was made for the Mount Gambier six-month program and strongly denied the possibility Forster would be eligible.
“This is a serious mater, he will be facing imprisonment for well over 12 months,” she said.
The defence counsel emphasised the application was for a 12-month program based in Adelaide and requested Forster’s files to be transferred for assessment.
“I am prepared to give you the opportunity to argue whether he is eligible for the program,” she said.
“My belief is that he may not be, but I will transfer his files to Adelaide.”
The defendant is expected to appear in court again on June 22.
