Dunedin driver sentenced after 'crazy driving' through city streets

Kody Mosen's excuse for his wild driving antics through Dunedin was that he was scared.

"This was the stuff of movies. And that is not a compliment. This was crazy driving. I do not understand why you would drive in this way,'' Judge Dominic Flatley said sentencing a 20-year-old Dunedin man.

Kody Kevin William Mosen, employed, was before the Dunedin District Court convicted of reckless driving, failing to stop for police and driving while forbidden.

He was sentenced to four months' community detention, 200 hours' community work, nine months' supervision, disqualified from driving for 14 months and is to pay $1450.07 reparation.

The facts summary said Mosen accelerated heavily and travelled south in Bond St when he left The Clean car wash, about 9.40pm on November 24.

At the intersections with Police, Jervois and Princes Sts he again accelerated heavily, spinning the rear wheels of his car as he went through.

In Princes St, he reached 89kmh in the 50kmh zone.

Followed by a police vehicle with its blue and red flashing lights and siren activated, he failed to stop. He did not stop at the Neville St-Burns St intersection. In Law St he travelled over speed bumps at speeds of 50kmh-60kmh, bottoming out and sending sparks from under his vehicle.

In Helena St, he accelerated towards Macandrew Rd doing around 70kmh-80kmh.

And in Nelson St, which is narrow and unlaned, and where his speed was 50kmh-60kmh, the driver of an oncoming vehicle had to take evasive action to avoid a collision.

Mosen continued around numerous other South Dunedin back streets before taking South Rd, where he reached 70kmh-80kmh.

In Cole St, he did not stop for a stop sign at the top of the hill.

At one point he managed to avoid a police spike strip. As a result, becoming obstructed by a van waiting in a right turn lane to travel up South Rd, he drove around the van, scraping its right tail-light and bumper.

He then drove on the footpath for about 20m before going back on to South Rd.

Soon afterwards, he stopped outside his address, which was nearby, and was arrested.

His explanation for not stopping was he was scared.

Public defender Brendan Stephenson said Mosen was young and needed to be more enlightened about his responsibilities as a driver. He was willing to undertake driving courses.

"The public will be able to be more at ease when he gets his licence back.''

Judge Flatley acknowledged Mosen was genuinely remorseful and extremely disappointed with himself.

The community detention curfew would be over the weekends (6pm Fridays to 6am Mondays), "so you cannot go out during what is your risk period'', he told Mosen.

As part of his supervision, Mosen is to undergo an impaired driver programme.