Marcus Saul Prior, 29, sentenced to two years jail for repeated disqualified driving and speeding from police

A meth addict with a history of speeding away from police in stolen cars has pleaded guilty in Cairns Magistrates Court to his sixth evasion and 14th disqualified driving charge.

A man with a meth addiction and a history of speeding away from police in stolen cars has been sentenced to two years jail after pleading guilty to a string of driving, drugs, and dishonesty charges.

Marcus Saul Prior, 29, of Edmonton, pleaded guilty yesterday in Cairns Magistrates Court to 33 charges related to incidents between May 2022 and May 2023 in which he sped away from police who tried to pull him over three times, unlawfully used cars four times, stole fuel in drive-offs five times, and drove disqualified six times.

He also pleaded guilty to stealing alcohol, two number plate offences, possessing drug utensils, failing to dispose of needles, and possessing 1g and 1.9 grams of meth on two separate occasions.

Police prosecutor Tara Nona told the court Prior had come to police attention while he was driving on May 9, 2022, September 15, 2022 and December 8, 2022, and they activated lights and sirens.

Marcus Saul Prior, 29, sped away from police who attempted to pull him over on three occasions.

On each occasion, Prior took off at speed, sometimes taking corners without braking, leading police to abort their pursuits of Prior’s vehicle because of community safety concerns.

Ms Nona said Prior’s fingerprints were found inside two stolen cars.

He was also captured on security cameras stealing fuel, acting as a lookout when an associate stole a car in Redlynch, and stealing alcohol.

Defence solicitor Shania Thomas said Prior had turned to methamphetamines after he was in a car accident that put him in a wheelchair for months, and the later breakdown of his relationship.

She told the court Prior had worked in construction, cleaning and tourism before the accident, and was a father, but had difficulty returning to work because of his injury-related pain.

In prison on remand, he had completed “moral recognition therapy”, she said.

Magistrate Terence Browne said a jail term was the only option for Prior’s “persistent lawlessness”.

He noted the latest six disqualified driving charges brought to 14 the number of that particular offence on Prior’s criminal history.

Magistrate Terence Browne sentenced Marcus Saul Prior, 29, to two years imprisonment on 33 charges including repeated disqualified driving and evasion.

“You’ve really offended continuously since 2016, with short periods of not offending when you are in custody” said Mr Browne.

“(Unlawfully using motor vehicles) causes great inconvenience for those who work to acquire their motor vehicles, and not having these cars to go about their daily lives has an impact on themselves, their families and the wider community,” Mr Browne said.

“Evasion is a particularly serious offence and I am perplexed that you, as someone who has been in a serious motor vehicle accident yourself, have been engaging in this high risk activity in motor vehicles.

“I’m told that you were self-medicating with methamphetamines.”

Mr Browne urged Prior to continue the rehabilitation he had started in prison, imposing a head sentence of two years, with a parole release date of January 6, 2025, considering the 531 days Prior had already served in custody.

Originally published as Marcus Saul Prior, 29, sentenced to two years jail for repeated disqualified driving and speeding from police