A Launceston man who created a trail of drug-fuelled destruction in a bid to avoid police has pleaded guilty to a string of driving charges in court.
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Brandon Malcolm Charlesworth was disqualified from driving when he led police on a high-speed pursuit acros Launceston last year, the court heard.
According to police, Charlesworth was disqualified until May 2023 when officers caught him driving on Wellington Street about 5.30am on November 17. On November 19, he was seen driving again on High Street where he collided with another vehicle and failed to stop at the scene.
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Police said the front bumper on Charlesworth's car was dislodged so he stopped, pulled it off and put it in the car before he continued to drive.
On November 20, police said Charlesworth was driving at Invermay. Police said he accelerated, crossed a median strip, ended up on the wrong side of the road and collided with another car on Tamar Street.
Charlesworth was only caught after he crashed his car on the footpath outside the City Park Grand Hotel in Launceston.
The car's engine was left running at maximum revs because its rear right wheels were spinning on the footpath, and a hole was made in the footpath.
Police said Charlesworth tried to run from the scene before they managed to arrest him.
According to police, Charlesworth knew police were following him and wanted him to stop but he had no intention of pulling over.
Tests later revealed Charlesworth was under the influence of methamphetamine and THC. In addition to the driving offences, Charlesworth pleaded guilty to two stealing charges. On November 14, he took a jacket from The Sports Arena and on November 20 he stole caps from Red Herring Surf.
In Launceston Magistrates Court on Friday Charlesworth's legal representative James Oxley said his client stole to pay for a drug habit.
Mr Oxley said Charlesworth had a long-standing problem with illicit substances and started using the drug ice when he was 15.
"Since that age he's been injecting methamphetamine whenever he can get his hands on it...his criminal history is almost without exception, linked to that drug," Mr Oxley said.
Despite the seriousness of Charlesworth's crimes, rehabilitation should be a priority, Mr Oxley said.
"Ultimately the protection of the community is best served by the rehabilitation of Mr Charlesworth if that's possible," he said.
Magistrate Simon Brown requested a report into Charlesworth's eligibility for a court mandated drug offender diversion program and adjourned the case to March 23.
