Jimmy Arua Neale, 23, of Kingston sentenced for evading police while drink driving

When police finally pulled over a drunk driver after an “unusually slow” evasion attempt, they were “appalled” by his “outrageously high” reading.

A 23-year-old man who evaded police while driving four-and-a-half times over the limit, has been told jail is all but a certainty should he get behind the wheel anytime soon.

Jimmy Arua Neale of Kingston pleaded guilty at Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Monday (June 27) to four charges.

They included an offence each of driving while under the influence of liquor and evading police.

The court heard Neale was on January 1 at Camira “given every opportunity to stop” by intercepting police, but kept driving at an unusually slow pace.

When he was finally pulled over, police observed a “slumped” Neale with his eyes half closed.

According to the prosecution, the defendant mumbled, spoke nonsensically and smelled strongly of alcohol.

Tests would confirm he had a breath-alcohol reading of 0.214 per cent, placing him just about four-and-a-half times over the limit.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Karine Evans said driving with such an “extremely high” reading was “appalling” and placed the community at significant risk.

It came on the back of a criminal history for significant unrelated offending.

Tests would confirm Neale had a 0.214 per cent breath-alcohol content. Generic image used. Picture: Supplied

The court heard Neale was previously sentenced to probation, suspended jail and a term of imprisonment with immediate parole for domestic violence.

Defence solicitor Tayler Bowdren said the father-of-two had been homeless at the time of the evasion offence.

Neale had since served 104 days in pre-sentence custody which had served as a “sobering” wake-up call, the court was told.

Magistrate Terry Duroux denounced Neale for placing the community at significant risk with his “deplorable behaviour”.

The defendant was sentenced to a mandatory minimum 50 days’ prison for evading police, and 90 days prison for driving with an “outrageously high” reading – to be served concurrently.

An existing suspended prison sentence was activated in full.

He was further sentenced to eight months’ prison for two other charges and disqualified from driving for two years and nine months.

With 104 days’ pre-sentence custody declared time served, Neale was granted immediate parole release.

“In my view, if you choose to drive in the next two years, you choose to go to jail, it really is that simple,” Mr Duroux said.