A woman who scattered pedestrians when she drove through a red traffic light in the CBD while evading police was sentenced in the Launceston Magistrates Court to six weeks jail.
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However, Magistrate Simon Brown suspended the term for Amber Smith for 18 months on the condition that she commit no imprisonable offence.
READ MORE: Suspended jail term for East Coast man
Smith, 21, of Mowbray pleaded guilty to a 'very large number of matters' related to drug use, stealing and reckless driving and evading police charges.
Brown said the driving episode in March 2020 was a serious escalation in her offending.
"It involved unlicensed driving, unregistered motor vehicle, using number plates calculated to deceive running two red traffic lights evading police and reckless driving," he said.
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"You drove on York street failed to stop at two red lights and drove through the York and St John street intersection forcing pedestrians to get out of your way to avoid being hit by that vehicle.
"That is the sort of driving which ends up with people serving time in jail.
"Your insight into how serious it was is somewhat limited.
You put lives at risk with what you stupidly did on that day.
- Magistrate Simon Brown
"It is important to send a message to you and other people that if you see flashing lights and sirens you must stop not go through red lights and almost hit pedestrians."
The court heard that as a 15-year-old Smith began a relationship with a 21-year-old drug user.
"That relationship resulted in you being isolated from your family and extended family but that ended in late 2020 and you are now living with your sister," Mr Brown said.
He said youth and a lack of prior convictions were significant mitigating factors.
Smith was disqualified from driving for twenty seven months and placed on a Community Correction Order for two years requiring her to report to a probation officer.
She was also required to do 105 hours of community service and fined $800.
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