KEY POINTS:
A Hastings shearer has been jailed for his 25th conviction for driving while disqualified.
Te Mana James Nathan, 40, of Flaxmere, was sentenced to three months imprisonment after pleading guilty in Hastings District Court on Friday to reckless driving and driving while disqualified, Hawke's Bay Today reported.
Nathan was stopped by police while driving through Flaxmere and gave a false name and birth date.
While they were checking his details he took off, driving erratically and reaching speeds of 100km/h with police in pursuit.
He eventually abandoned his vehicle but was arrested as he tried to climb the back fence of his home.
Nathan admitted to police he ran out of fear he would get sent to jail for driving while disqualified, again.
Jailing him, Judge Tony Adeane said: "I recognise that you may have panicked under the circumstances but the court cannot be seen to sympathise with your situation."
The national record for driving while disqualified convictions is understood to stand at 51.
- NZPA
