A man was already wanted by police and had a warrant out for his arrest when he was involved in a police pursuit through the streets of Orange in March.
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Dylan Geoffrey Wright, 24, of Derby Street, Penrith, had three passengers in the car when he was involved in the pursuit on March 16.
Wright had been wanted by police since December 20, when a warrant was issued for his arrest in Mudgee.
He had been living at Windamingle Place, Orange, at the time of the police chase and despite fleeing town after the pursuit, he was arrested on March 23 and was refused bail.
On Monday, he appeared via audio visual link in Orange Local Court where magistrate David Day gave him an eight-month jail sentence, dating from March 24 for the pursuit.
Wright will have to serve six months of the jail term without parole, giving him a possible release date of September 23.
His driver’s licence was also disqualified for 12 months.
“Mr Wright has an appalling record and he also has a bad driving record. The [jail] threshold has been well and truly crossed,” Mr Day said.
The court heard that during the pursuit Wright refused to stop and let his passengers out.
Police said a passenger opened a door when Wright turned into Gona Street from Elsham Avenue but Wright did not stop and instead accelerated to at least 80 km/h in the 50km/h zone.
“Police decided to call off the pursuit because it was getting dangerous,” Mr Day said.
Wright was represented by solicitor Peter Ringbauer who said his client was exposed to domestic violence and alcoholism growing up, started using cannabis at 11 and the drug ice at 15.
“He tells the court that at the time [of the pursuit] he had consumed illicit drugs and his judgement was clouded,” Mr Ringbauer said.
According to police facts, the pursuit started after police saw Wright driving a silver Ford Laser south on Lone Pine Avenue at 10.37pm on March 16 and instead of stopping when police signalled, he accelerated harshly and sped through multiple residential streets.
He turned into Churchill Avenue so fast that he crossed to the wrong side of the road, and after turning into McLachlan Street he accelerated to at least 80km/h before turning west onto Bathurst Road.
The pursuit was terminated after Wright drove through a red light at the Summer Street and Sale Street intersection.
