Kyle Roberts, 33, faces Ballina court pleading guilty to ice-fuelled highway police pursuit
An L-plater on meth led police on a harrowing high-speed chase in northern NSW, which covered more than 70km. Here’s how he fared in court.
Police & Courts
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An L-plate driver on meth led police on an hour-long high-speed chase in northern NSW in “one of the most serious pursuits” a magistrate has dealt with.
Kyle Roberts crossed onto the wrong side of the road and hit speeds of up to 190kmh across the 72 kilometre trip between Ballina to Tabbimoble in northern NSW on July 20 last year.
The 33-year-old faced Ballina Local Court on Friday by videolink pleading guilty to engaging in a police pursuit, speeding and reckless driving on ‘L’ plates, driving without a fully licensed driver and failing to display ‘L’ plates.
He also pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing a prohibited drug, driving under the influence of drugs and taking a drug into a place of detention.
Roberts from Cumbalum was carrying three passengers in a BMW 320i sedan when he failed to stop for a random roadside test in West Ballina, police documents state.
The BMW sped off towards River St in Ballina, overtaking cars at 120kmh in a 60kmh zone, sparking a police pursuit.
Roberts drove on to the Pacific Highway and accelerated to 190kmh, until he reached Wardell.
Exiting the highway and hitting Wardell’s residential streets, Roberts travelled 90kmh in a 50km zones, according to police facts.
Police set up road spikes near Boundary Creek Rd in Wardell, but Roberts avoided the trap and went onto the Pacific Highway.
The pursuit was then terminated due to the danger to the public.
Roberts performed illegal U-turns and began driving down the wrong side of the highway, forcing police to halt oncoming traffic.
Eventually Roberts’ vehicle became stuck in vegetation in the middle of a median strip.
Police arrested Roberts and a passenger when they tried to flee, but two more passengers were nowhere to be seen.
“Roberts appeared well affected by drugs as his eyes were glazed, his eyelids dropped and his speech was slurred,” police documents state.
He was taken to the Ballina District Hospital and told police about smoking methamphetamines the previous day.
Police found 0.38g of methamphetamine and an ice pipe in the BMW.
Roberts was taken to Tweed Heads Police Station and placed in a holding cell.
Police found 3.55g of cannabis wrapped in toilet paper concealed in Roberts underwear, which he intended to take to prison.
The court heard Roberts had been freed from prison before the chase and “had no idea what he was doing” and “forgot that he was an L-plater”.
Magistrate Karen Stafford said the pursuit was particularly “serious” and “dangerous” because of its length and Roberts’ manner of driving.
“You were driving on the incorrect side of the motorway and were under the influence of methamphetamine,” she said.
Ms Stafford said the chase was “one of the most serious pursuits I‘ve dealt with” in the court.
“The community cannot be safe with you being let out today on an intensive corrections order,” she said.
Ms Stafford sentenced Roberts to one year and one month of imprisonment with a non-parole period of six months.
Roberts’ licence has been disqualified for two years.
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