KEY POINTS:
Kelsey Howe was showing off to his mates when he drove away from police and reached speeds of more than 180km/h.
He overtook several cars on a blind corner to get away, behaviour described by a judge in the Rotorua District Court yesterday as "exceedingly reckless".
Judge Jane Farish told the Rotorua farmer, who turns 20 tomorrow, he could easily have become another road statistic.
Howe pleaded guilty yesterday to charges of reckless driving, speeding and failing to stop.
He was fined $1300 and banned from driving for a year.
Prosecuting Sergeant Geoff Kaye-Ivitu told the court that just after midnight on August 4, Howe was seen driving along State Highway 29 near Mt Maunganui.
He had three friends in the car and was clocked by police driving at 150km/h in a 100km/h zone.
Police chased him and he sped away, crossing a double yellow line on a blind corner, on a hill, overtaking several cars.
His speed reached more than 180km/h.
Howe drove through two roundabouts at high speed.
He was stopped by several police cars near the intersection of State Highway 29 and Oropi Rd, just over 10km from where he was first seen by police.
He told police he was speeding to show off to his mates but admitted what he had done was "stupid".
Judge Farish said it was more than stupid.
"It was pretty bad driving ... It was exceedingly reckless.
"You could have killed yourself and your friends and others on the road.
"You would have been just another statistic that we read about in the newspapers all the time."
Judge Farish asked Howe if he realised how serious his actions were and Howe said he did.
- Daily Post
