Beau Peralta jailed for driving rampage including running red lights at 100km/h, 200km/h in Lara

A Geelong man who drove through red lights on Latrobe St at more than 150km/h three days after fronting court for ammunition and drugs offences has been sentenced.

A Geelong man who drove through red lights on Latrobe St at more than 100km/h three days after he was sentenced for ammunition and drugs offences was jailed for nine months on Monday.

Beau Peralta, 30, was a disqualified driver and had already fled police twice at high speed in a BMW on June 3 when he was spotted driving the car at about 200km/h on Broderick Rd, Lara.

The Geelong Magistrates’ Court was told the police air wing was called to track Peralta on June 3 as he drove on the wrong side of the road, and at 100km/h in a 60km/h zone in North Shore.

Police attempted to put down stop sticks in North Shore but Peralta sped past at 120km/h, and continued to Latrobe Terrace where he drove at 150km/h and ran three red lights.

Peralta’s rampage continued to Barwon Terrace where he drove at high speed on the wrong side of the road causing drivers to swerve to avoid a crash.

The court was told Peralta was triggered by the end of a relationship with a long-term partner and news she was pregnant.

Court documents reveal Peralta was driving the BMW at 11:50am on June 3 when he pulled up to another car on Princess Rd, Norlane and said to the people inside: “Youse are sluts, youse are air raiders. You are lucky we don’t put a bullets through your head.”

When police went to a Mt Duneed house to talk to Peralta he got into the BMW and swerved around cars at 90km/h in a 50km/h zone to get away, court documents state.

Police finally caught up with Peralta at a Leopold house and found a tactical knife and false number plates on the BMW.

The aftermath of the a crash that nearly claimed the life of Peralta in 2019. Picture: Alison Wynd

The court heard Peralta was nearly killed when he came off a motorbike near the Geelong High School in 2019, and needed three weeks in ICU.

Defence lawyer Tim Hancock said his client engaged in a pattern of behaviour that would concern the community.

“It is accepted from the outset the incredible seriousness of the offences.”

He said his client had a problem with rational decision making due to psychological issues.

Magistrate Simon Guthrie said it wasn’t evident Peralta, a one-time daily drug user, was entirely remorseful.

“I truly wonder how you got access to a car. At 30-years of age it is about time you took advantage of all the treatment that is available to you,” Mr Guthrie said.

Peralta pleaded guilty to reckless driving placing people in danger of death, dangerous driving while being pursued, behaving in an offensive manner in a public place, failing to stop on police direction, weapon possession and disqualified driving.

Due to time served Peralta is due to be released from jail in four months. He will be put on community corrections order when released.

Originally published as Beau Peralta jailed for driving rampage including running red lights at 100km/h, 200km/h in Lara