KEY POINTS:
A motorist who led Whangarei police on high-speed chases at more than 200km/h has been jailed for three months and warned he won't live long if he doesn't slow down.
Damian Brooke Smith, 21, of Maungatapere, was sentenced in the Whangarei District Court yesterday after pleading guilty to a raft of driving charges including six counts of driving while disqualified, four of failing to stop, two each of dangerous and reckless driving and one of careless driving.
Smith was also being sentenced for the burglary of the Maungakaramea Fire Station, stealing petrol, giving false details to police and stealing a registration plate - charges he had also admitted.
Judge de Ridder said on August 13 this year, Smith sparked a police chase when he refused to stop for an officer who had wanted to speak to him about why he hadn't stopped at a checkpoint earlier in the day. He accelerated away and police could not catch him.
The judge said Smith was seen passing vehicles in a dangerous and reckless manner as he drove from Whangarei to the Maungakaramea area.
A passenger in the car said he feared for his life as Smith hit speeds at more than 200km/h.
Judge de Ridder said three pursuing police cars had all been unable to stop Smith until he got trapped at the end of Porter Rd, south-west of Whangarei.
Judge de Ridder said Smith was involved in a police pursuit on July 5 when he failed to stop after he almost collided with a tree. During that chase, he drove on the wrong side of the road and ran a red light.
On July 10 he drove away from police when he was questioned about his car and the following day he drove through parts of Whangarei reaching seeds of up to 140km/h in a 50km/h area.
Between July 30 and August 4, the judge said, Smith broke into the Maungakaramea Fire Station, where he had been a volunteer firefighter, and stole communication equipment and accessories worth $5700. That property was recovered.
Smith had resorted to some of the most dangerous driving he had heard of in his time as a judge and it was a miracle that he hadn't caused a fatal accident.
"If you keep driving like this I suspect you might not have a long life ahead of you," the judge said.
He jailed Smith for three months and disqualified him from driving for nine months. However that disqualification won't start until December when his current ban from driving ends.
- NORTHERN ADVOCATE
