Jason Douglas Menzies jailed for KFC delivery vehicle police chase

A man who claimed he was kidnapped to dupe police and evade arrest after he was pursued in a stolen KFC delivery car has learnt his fate for his bizarre antics.

A man who fled from police in a stolen KFC delivery vehicle had only been released from prison two months before he took the authorities on a dangerous fast food run.

Having previously told the court he was kidnapped, Jason Douglas Menzies, 31, pleaded guilty to a string of offences in the Mount Gambier Magistrate Court on Friday.

Jason Douglas Menzies jailed for KFC delivery vehicle police chase. Picture: Facebook

The police prosecutor alleged the main spate of offending including driving while disqualified, without consent or number plates and dangerous driving occurred on November 30 after he was spotted by an off duty police officer.

“He stopped and spoke with the defendant after recognising the motor vehicle the defendant was in matched the description of a recently stolen Suzuki Baleno,” she said.

A white Suzuki Baleno was stolen while the driver was out of the car was making a food delivery in Ingleby Street in Mount Gambier and was later involved in a police chase. Picture: SA Police

“It was reported stolen only the day before, it was taken from a delivery driver, I believe from KFC.”

Less than two hours later police attempted to stop the car travelling at speed and on the wrong side of the road at Yahl using road spikes but the driver veered onto the grass, fishtailed and sped off with police losing sight.

At the time Menzies was on bail after doing “a runner” in a pair of stolen Adidas shorts from Intersport Mount Gambier on October 26 and was already disqualified from driving for three years, the court heard.

He has been in custody since his arrest at Woolworths on December 4 where he was found with a 7cm butterfly knife.

With a history littered with like offending, driving disqualifications and prison sentences, prosecution argued “imprisonment (was) appropriate”.

Menzies’ defence lawyer Jarrad Sim argued for his immediate release saying he had purchased the car after he was contacted on Facebook and was unaware of the police until they deployed the spikes, avoiding them out of fear.

“He foolishly agreed,” Mr Sim said.

“He wasn’t aware that it was stolen.”Menzies’ “horrific childhood” was marred by his violent, addict father who spent time in and out of jail, leading to him being abandoned in Queensland at 13.

Mr Sim said his remorseful client had been a drug addict “most of his adult life” but had been sober when left prison until he was the alleged victim of an assault and was motivated to rehabilitate.

While he argued “nine months in custody is certainly not an insignificant period” but Magistrate Maria Panagiotidis disagreed.

“I’m not convinced that is a long enough period of imprisonment for the number of offences and his significant record,” Magistrate Panagiotidis said.

“The problem I have with a suspended sentence is the fact that this man has spent a lot of time in custody.”

Magistrate Panagiotidis said “a total lack of parental guidance or love” led Menzies to drugs and “a life of crime” but did not accept he did not understand police were attempting to stop him in regards to the stolen car.

“The price was so low you should have realised that something was amiss,” she said.

“You were not aware that the police were chasing you at one point but you drove dangerously and avoided them.

“I find there must have been some understanding on your part.”

Recording convictions on all counts, Menzies received an 18 month head sentence with a non parole period of 10 months both backdated for time served.

He will be disqualified for a further 12 months once his current period expires, with compensation granted to Intersport and ordered to pay fees of more than $2000.