A homeless man who was serving a suspended prison term when he repeatedly failed to show up for court and was busted driving while disqualified has been given "another last chance" by a magistrate.
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Jack Harrison Edwards, 21, previously evaded police in aggravated circumstances and was slapped with 12-month wholly suspended prison sentence in July 2018.
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In May last year he was caught driving in Invermay while tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) was present in his blood and two days after a four-month disqualification period had commenced.
Edwards was told to front court later that month and again in July 2019 but he never showed up.
When Edwards did appear in Launceston Magistrates Court on Monday he pleaded guilty to a string of charges, which also included trespassing and property offences from August 2018.
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Defence lawyer Isabelle Patch told the court Edwards was homeless and couch surfing.
"He was diagnosed with autism when he was in Year 10 but is not currently on any medication or a treatment plan for that," Ms Patch said.
"Previously he was using cannabis daily to help him sleep. He no longer uses it daily."
Ms Patch said Edwards had a drug problem when he committed his crimes and the suspended sentence was now "having its desired effect".
"He's had no new offending since May 2009 and this is due to him being proactive and making a number of lifestyle changes," Ms Patch said.
"He is no longer tempted to drive his car and he has left it at his mother's house in Legerwood."
Given Edwards' personal circumstances, it would be unjust to activate the suspended sentence, Ms Patch said.
Magistrate Simon Brown said there was genuine community interest in keeping young people out of jail and not exposing them to "corruptive influences".
While the suspended sentence initially failed, Magistrate Brown said it seemed to have now worked.
"This will be your fourth episode of driving while disqualified in a relatively short driving career," Magistrate Brown reminded Edwards.
"You're getting another last chance."
Edwards was sentenced to eight weeks in prison, wholly suspended for 18 months. He was also fined $800, disqualified from driving for nine months and placed on a community corrections order.
