A man who drove at more than 120km/h on the wrong side of the old coastal road between Ulverstone and Penguin has been sentenced to two and a half years jail.
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On January 2, 2018, Trent James Jones drove at more than twice the speed limit while fleeing police along Penguin Road towards Penguin.
Crown prosecutor Lisa Pennington said police estimated him to be travelling about 150km/h, and defence lawyer Donal Craig conceded it was at least 120km/h.
The 36-year-old was wanted by police in relation to a range of other matters when police saw him driving an unregistered vehicle while they knew him to be unlicensed.
Jones successfully evaded police at that time but was apprehended and arrested on January 30, 2018 at Somerset, the court heard.
In June, Jones pleaded guilty to charges of dangerous driving and evading police before Justice Michael Brett.
He is currently serving a prison sentence for unrelated matters.
Sentencing was deferred while a psychology report was conducted on Jones, as defence lawyer Donal Craig suggested previous traumatic events in Jones' life may have left him with acquired brain injuries.
However, the psychology report found no such injuries persisted following Jones' two previous suicide attempts and being beaten in prison earlier this year, Mr Craig said in sentencing submissions.
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In June Mr Craig told the court Jones was illiterate, likely dyslexic, and had used methamphetamine since age 16.
Three years later, when he was 19-years-old, Jones attempted suicide by hanging himself from a tree at a beach at Somerset and was pronounced clinically dead for a short period of time, Mr Craig told the court.
Mr Craig said Jones had severe neck and throat injuries and had to relearn how to talk following the suicide attempt.
Mr Craig said Jones' father died suddenly of a brain aneurysm in November 2017, and shortly after Jones attempted suicide a second time by riding a motorcycle at a wall at a high speed.
In sentencing, Justice Michael Brett said he saw little evidence Jones had committed himself to living a law abiding life following any of his previous convictions and jail terms.
And although Jones pleaded guilty to the current charges, Justice Brett said that plea came late in the proceedings and he did not regard it as evidence of contrition.
Jones will be eligible for parole after 15 months.
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Sandy Powell
Court and crime reporter covering the West and North-West of Tasmania for the Advocate.
Court and crime reporter covering the West and North-West of Tasmania for the Advocate.
