Dog squad ruffs up reckless Redcliffe driver after high speed chase through five north Brisbane suburbs

The court heard the man “panicked” when he saw a police car, leading to an hours-long chase through Brisbane’s north in which he ran several red lights.

A Redcliffe man had been sentenced to 100 days in prison for leading police on a dangerous, high speed car chase through five north Brisbane suburbs.

Darcy John Coutts, 27, pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, evading police, possession of drug utensils and possession of a dangerous drug at the Pine Rivers Magistrates Court on November 17.

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The court heard Coutts first came to the attention of police as he was driving his boss’s black Holden Commodore ute through Lawnton just after midnight on August 7.

What ensued was a lengthy police chase in which Coutts repeatedly tried to evade police as he sped through red lights, down suburban streets and across bridges.

Darcy Coutts was sentenced to 100 days in prison for evading police and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

According to the police prosecutor, Coutts was seen travelling at a high speed onto Forgan Rd in Joyner, then again 15 minutes later travelling south on the Ted Smout Memorial Bridge in Brighton.

By 1.06am Coutts was spotted in Bracken Ridge, where he tore through several red lights “in a dangerous manner”.

Police were finally moved to activate their lights and sirens in an attempt to intercept Coutts in Kurwongbah, but he refused to stop and took off at high speeds north on Narangba Rd.

Spikes were deployed at the corner of Lakeside Rd, which successfully punctured all four tyres.

Coutts attempted to keep driving for another 300 metres, before jumping out of the car and taking off into farmland on Cooper Rd.

The K9 dog squad located Coutts hiding in the long grass 400 metres away.

According to the prosecutor, Coutts refused to surrender and was “apprehended” by the police dog and taken to the watch house.

Darcy Coutts took his boss's car on a high speed chase across Brisbane's north.

A search of the vehicle reveals a glass pipe with evidence of drug use.

The lawyer for the defence told the court Coutts had been tasked with picking up the car for his former employer, who had been arrested the day before on drug charges and left his car on the side of the road.

Because of the circumstances surrounding the car, Coutts “panicked” when he saw a police vehicle and “things went from bad to worse”.

The court heard Coutts, a father of one child who works as a carpenter and concreter, struggled with an addiction to methamphetamines but was not using at the time.

Coutts has been in police custody since his arrest on August 7, during which time he has endured several periods of prison lockdowns.

Magistrate Trevor Morgan sentenced Coutts to 50 days imprisonment and six months disqualification from driving for the dangerous operation of a motor vehicle charge, and a further 50 days imprisonment and two years disqualification from driving for the police evasion charge.

For the drug charges Coutts was convicted and not further punished.

He will be eligible for parole on November 27.