A pregnant passenger brought an end to a high-speed police pursuit through residential streets when, from the middle of the back seat, she kicked the car's gear stick into park.
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The pursuit started after Eric Middleton, 22, of Moresby Street, panicked when police signalled for him to pull over for a random breath test at 3.37am on January 24.
Middleton, who was on parole and had a disqualified driver's licence, sped up and when his two passengers asked him to stop he said "I can't go back to jail".
According to police he was seen driving a black Ford Falcon on Wakeford Street but a pursuit was initiated when he accelerated and crossed the intersection with Icely Road, and continued down Winter Street.
Middleton turned left onto March Street and reached 120km/h and slowed to 80km/h when he drove past a stop sign.
The pursuit continued on Autumn, Dalton and McLachlan streets before the woman stopped the car. Middleton was shouting when he got out of the car and fearing a violent confrontation police gave a burst of capsicum spray, took him to the ground and handcuffed him.
During a search, police found his wallet and inside was 0.3 grams of methamphetamine.
Middleton was already in custody when he appeared before magistrate David Day via an audio visual link in Orange Local Court on Wednesday.
He said in the facts, 'I don't want to go to jail,' which is why he panicked and drove away from police, and the consequence of that is that he goes to jail.
- David Day
"He said in the facts, 'I don't want to go to jail,' which is why he panicked and drove away from police, and the consequence of that is that he goes to jail," Mr Day said.
"This is the second police pursuit and second drive while disqualified, committed while he was on parole when he promised to be on good behaviour," Mr Day said.
Solicitor Andrew Rolfe said Middleton was a young man so there were still prospects for him to be rehabilitated.
"It was never his intention to drive on that day but one of the passengers refused to drive," Mr Rolfe said.
Mr Day gave Middleton three-month jail sentences back dated to January 24 for drug possession and driving while disqualified.
However, Middleton will remain in custody until at least October 23 after he was given a 12-month jail sentence with nine-month non-parole period for the pursuit.
The sentence took into account a 25 per cent discount for entering an early guilty plea. Mr Day also acknowledged Middleton's young age.
"It's aggravated by being on conditional liberty and a very bad record in general and a bad driving record," Mr Day said.
"When Mr Middleton is released from custody, the community-based orders imposed last year will then resume."
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