Man jailed after wild rat run through Coffs Harbour

A black Alfa Romeo nearly hit multiple vehicles at a Coffs Harbour roundabout. When it crashed into a tree, the driver swam across a creek to evade capture - but not for long.

A young man has been jailed for a year after leading police on a chaotic and dangerous rat run through the heart of Coffs Harbour in broad daylight.

The frantic chase with Jyrah Zayne McPherson on February 18 ended when he ploughed a black Alfa Romeo into a tree, while a police car in hot pursuit also came to grief in a greasy paddock.

Appearing via audio visual link in Coffs Harbour Local Court on Monday, McPherson, 21, was sentenced to 12 months in prison by magistrate Ian Rodgers.

The string of events which led to his downfall began at 6.45am on February 18 when residents called police worried about three males in a black Alfa Romeo parked at Emerald Beach.

A number of police vehicles continued along Hogbin Drive in the wake of the Alfa, which was seen turning left into Harbour Drive, and left again into the dead-end Dibbs Street.

The Italian sports car didn’t have registration plates, and residents said the males appeared to be intoxicated and were yelling out to passers-by, according to police facts.

Officers responded, but the vehicle was unattended, and they were unable to tell if the car was stolen.

At about 2pm, the males returned to the vehicle and drove toward the Pacific Highway, where it was detected by police in the Korora area, heading south toward Coffs Harbour.

The Alfa turned into Bay Drive, and police activated their lights.

One police car tried to pull up on the wet grassy ground, but collected a bollard and a tree - and its airbags deployed.

The police facts said the vehicle made a sharp right turn into Firman Drive, and a pursuit was initiated.

Back on the highway, the police facts said the Alfa was speeding at 110kph in a 60kph zone, then hooked left into Orlando Street - overtaking vehicles across double-line markings.

The Alfa swung into Hogbin Drive, almost hitting multiple vehicles at the roundabout, as police terminated the pursuit due to the nature of the driving, the facts said.

A number of police vehicles continued along Hogbin Drive in the wake of the Alfa, which was seen turning left into Harbour Drive, and left again into the dead-end Dibbs Street, where it accelerated into bushland, slid out of control, and crashed into a tree.

One police car tried to pull up on the wet grassy ground, but collected a bollard and a tree - and its airbags deployed.

According to the police facts, three males got out of the Alfa - one was arrested nearby, a second swam across a creek, a third tried the same, but turned back and was arrested on the banks.

The male who got away was arrested on April 5 after police matched his DNA with that found on the steering wheel and gear stick of the Alfa, the facts stated.

At sentencing, Mr Rodgers said McPherson was “still extremely young”, but the manner of his driving was of a “high level of seriousness”.

McPherson pleaded guilty and was convicted and sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment for police pursuit - not stop - drive dangerously first offence. He was also disqualified from holding a licence for two years. He will be eligible for release on October 5.

McPherson, of Merrylands, was also convicted and fined for never licensed person drive vehicle on road, and driving an unregistered and uninsured vehicle.