Joshua Noel Nicholls sentenced for dangerous driving, evading police after pursuit

A suspended driver’s dangerous actions were compared to a crash that claimed the life of a construction worker not long after. Find out why.

A driver’s actions have been compared to a crash that took the life of a construction worker just months later.

Joshua Noel Nicholls was driving an unregistered and uninsured vehicle around Beaconsfield when police tried to intercept his car on Mansfield Dr.

The car took off at high speeds through the residential area, driving through a busy construction zone with 40km/h speed limits enforced.

Magistrate Damien Dwyer told the court up to 12 workers were in the area, as well as heavy machinery being used when the pursuit took place on March 24, 2021.

A traffic control worker tried to slow the car down with a raised stop sign, but he had to move out of the way to avoid getting hit.

The police car followed with lights and sirens activated, but Mackay Magistrates Court heard this did not deter Nicholls from continuing to evade police about 11am.

He was driving on a suspended licence.

Mr Dwyer said it was not the first time Nicholls tried to evade police, with the 24 year old having a similar history of charges.

On January 13, 2021, police spotted Nicholls’ unregistered vehicle travelling just south of Cairns at 8.57pm.

Police tried to intercept his car with lights and sirens, but Nicholls drove away at high speed.

An infringement notice was initially issued to Nicholls’ mother, who owned the vehicle, but Nicholls told police he was the driver.

He was sentenced to a 12-month jail term, with parole on April 7, 2022 after 50 days served in custody.

Mr Dwyer said Nicholls’ offending was serious, and compared his offending with the crash that claimed the life of Brendan Moreland.

“The dangerous driving was particularly offensive, there were about a dozen people in a very confined space,” he said.

“A tragic incident occurred not long after, but I do take into account that no one was hurt.

“You have an atrocious traffic history, including disqualified driving, drug-driving, driving without due care and attention, and unlicensed driving.”

Nicholls pleaded guilty to evasion of police, dangerous driving, driving an unregistered car and driving without a licence.

He was sentenced to a 12-month jail term, with parole on April 7, 2022 after 50 days served in custody.

Nicholls was also disqualified from driving for a total of five years.