Conviction for good boy'

An 18-year-old who led police on a dangerous pursuit, reaching speeds of 110 km/h in residential, 50 km/h areas, was convicted of dangerous driving and failing to stop.

Brandon Geoffrey Pye, unemployed, plead guilty to both charges, in Masterton District Court, last week.

Judge Bill Hastings noted how, at one point, police officers were forced to call off the pursuit for their own safety.

" I have to put into account, is that you endangered public safety to an extremely high degree," Judge Hastings said.

Pye's sentence would need to "signify the community disapproval of this sort of behaviour".

However, he said he could see that Pye was essentially a "good boy" who had never previously appeared in court.

According to the police, at about 2.20am on May 24 Pye was driving east on Cornwall St, Masterton and had earlier been seen by police on Kokiri Place.

While exiting Kokiri Place police began flashing their lights indicating for him to pull over.

Pye did not stop and continued to drive east on Cornwall St towards Pownall St intersection. He turned right into Pownall St and headed south, onto Fleet St.

A pursuit began with Pye heading towards Carterton.

He entered Carterton, a 50 km/h zone, at 110 km/h and continued to drive at speeds of up to 100 km/h.

At one stage Pye came up behind a tractor unit and trailer that was transporting logs. He over took the truck at speed and continued south on High St towards Greytown. At this point the pursuit was called off due to Pye's speed and weather conditions.

Greytown police were called in to assist in stopping Pye as he travelled south.

He was seen swerving in his lane before coming to a stop up on the footpath on Main St, Greytown.

A roadside breath screening test carried out on Pye returned a result of under 250mgc. The law requires a zero alcohol limit for drivers under 20.

Pye told police he had been drinking at a party before driving.

Defence lawyer Virginia Pearson said Pye's actions were a "poor error of judgment".

Prosecuting sergeant Jodie Lawrence said there was "no excuse for his actions". Pye received a $300 fine, plus court costs, 100 hours community work and was disqualified from driving for six months.