KEY POINTS:
Daniel Karl Manson's late night, high-speed, lights-out drive has put the 19-year-old in prison for five months.
In 2005 he was convicted four times for driving while his licence was disqualified or suspended.
He was still disqualified on January 31 this year when police spotted him driving in the Christchurch seaside suburb of New Brighton about 3am.
The Christchurch District Court heard today how he made a break for it. He drove around the coast to Sumner, then into the hills over Evans Pass to Lyttelton.
Judge Colin Doherty said the police pursuit lasted 22 minutes with Manson reaching 120kmh in a 50kmh area, driving through roadworks on the wrong side of the road, and driving with his lights out.
When roadspikes wrecked the car's front tyres he kept driving for two blocks, pulled into a church yard and ran away. He was caught and charged with his fifth disqualified driving, reckless driving, and failing to stop for the police.
Judge Doherty said Manson had consciously taken the risks and now wanted all the help he could get from various programmes to curb his behaviour.
Defence counsel Allister Davis said Manson was contrite, had turned over a new leaf, had the support of his family, and the possibility of a full time job after working part time for a freight-forwarding business.
But Judge Doherty said he had put the whole community at risk with his shocking driving. He imposed a five-month jail term, ordered Manson to attend a rehabilitation programme, allowed him leave to apply for home detention, and disqualified him from driving for a year.
- NZPA
