Meth user Alastaire Bevan Pope sentenced in Rockhampton court

A methamphetamine user has been jailed and lost his licence for two years after he sped away from police at 40km/h over the speed limit and was involved in three fuel drive offs.

Alastaire Pope. Picture: Allan Reinikka

A methamphetamine user has been jailed and banned from driving for more than two years after he sped away from police at 40km/h over the speed limit, and was involved in three fuel drive-offs.

Alastaire Bevan Pope did not pull over for police while driving in Rockhampton on March 16, 2022 and drove off reaching speeds of 100km/h on Musgrave Street and High Street, which are 60km/h zones.

Pope also did a sharp turn in the vehicle, which caused it to skid.

Police prosecutor Clancy Fox said the 33-year-old was on parole at the time and has since spent 304 days in police custody.

Pope was also involved in three fuel drive-offs, stealing fuel from Ampol in Gracemere on March 1 and March 16, and United Petroleum in Bouldercombe on March 16.

He was also found in possession of 0.7g of meth on March 16.

Pope had a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.05 when he was intercepted driving along the Scenic Highway at Kinka Beach on December 3, 2021 and meth in his system when he was intercepted driving along Hinchliff Street, Rockhampton, on January 1, 2022.

Defence lawyer Samantha Legrady said meth had been an issue for her client and that he was affected by the drug at the time of committing the offences.

Ms Legrady said her client was also suffering “significant” family and personal issues.

Pope, who appeared in court via videolink from jail, pleaded guilty in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on January 16 to three counts of stealing and one count each of drink driving, drug driving, failing to stop for police, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and possessing dangerous drugs.

He was sentenced to two years’ jail with immediate parole eligibility, and disqualified from driving for two years and ten months. The 304 days’ pre-sentence custody was unable to be declared.