A man twice evaded police while being a disqualified driver during a crime spree despite having a four-month jail sentence hanging over his head, the Launceston Magistrates Court heard.
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Brereton James Jones, 23, was sentenced in July last year to four months' jail for aggravated evasion of police and reckless driving in 2017 but had the sentence suspended.
Police prosecutor Andrew Gillard said that during his first evasion on July 1, Jones travelled through two red traffic lights on Hobart Road.
He crossed over a traffic island in a red Mazda 3 and swerved onto the incorrect side of the road into oncoming traffic.
He drove at high speed and police called off the attempted interception.
On July 19, police spotted Jones driving a white Holden in Perth.
He drove off at high speed with two passengers and on the incorrect side of the road in Arthur Street, and shortly after abandoned the car.
He was arrested on July 23 and was in custody ever since.
The court heard that police tendered no evidence on three other evasions of police between July 12 and July 20.
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Magistrate Rob Webster told Jones that the maximum penalty for evading police was five years' jail and a fine of up to $17,300.
He activated the four-month suspended sentence and added six months' jail for the Hobart Road evasion and four months for the Perth evasion.
"The evasions occurred when you should not have been driving at all," he said.
"The episode in Hobart Road was in peak hour traffic and other drivers had to take evasive action to avoid multiple collisions."
He said he would be eligible for parole after half of the most recent evasion sentences.
Jones also pleaded guilty to possession of a shotgun, unlawful possession of a Tasmania Police shirt, possession of a controlled drug (buprenorphine) and possession of a controlled plant.
Mr Webster said Jones had 53 pages of prior convictions from 2009 to the present, although 24 pages concerned withdrawn charges.
He said he had three convictions for common assault, three for assaulting police, four firearm convictions, four previous evasions of police, two convictions for dangerous driving.
Mr Webster also cancelled a Community Correction Order ordered in May 2021 after Jones failed to attend seven appointments.
A count of aggravated assault against a woman in Waverley was adjourned until November 17.
Police allege Jones pointed a sawn-off shotgun at a woman on July 20.
He said he would allow some leniency because Jones was a young offender.
Nick Clark
I am the Supreme and Magistrates Court reporter for the Examiner for the past 18 months. My journalism career has clicked over 30 years and encompasses four different spells at Tasmanian newspapers.
I am the Supreme and Magistrates Court reporter for the Examiner for the past 18 months. My journalism career has clicked over 30 years and encompasses four different spells at Tasmanian newspapers.
