Kurt Andrew Reynolds in Coffs Harbour court for police chase

A police pursuit that ended when a motorcyclist lost control and hit a tree has finished with a jail term when it reached Coffs court. Here’s why.

Emergency services at the scene where Kurt Reynolds flight from police ended when his motorcycle crashed into a small tree north of Coffs Harbour on December 31. Picture: Frank Redward.

A man with a woeful traffic history “panicked” when police got on his tail north of Coffs Harbour on New Year’s Eve.

Kurt Andrew Reynolds bears the scars of that chase – as he limped into Coffs Harbour Local Court to be sentenced on Monday, February 21.

The court heard that Reynolds had been on parole for just two days when a police patrol near Woolgoolga detected two motorcycles travelling at 80km/h in a 60km/h speed zone on the Pacific Highway.

A pursuit began and the bikes were then clocked at 180km/h in a 110km/h zone.

Reynolds crossed onto a grass median strip and then lost control in a concrete drain before hitting a small tree.

He broke his foot in that impact.

He had a moon boot on when he appeared in court via video link on Monday.

His defence counsel, Joseph Harding, said the 43-year-old could need surgery to correct the condition – and appealed to the court not to impose a “crushing sentence”.

Mr Harding said Reynolds had issues with “impulse control”, and had an exceptionally hard up-bringing.

The accused had suffered abuse as a child when he served as an altar boy, the court heard.

Mr Harding said his client had used drugs since the age of 12 or 13 to mask that early trauma, and had been schooled only as far as Year 8.

“He made a stupid decision to drive” late on December 31, and when police responded “he panicked”, Mr Harding said.

Magistrate Ian Rodgers said Reynolds’ traffic history was “terrible”.

Reynolds pleaded guilty to five charges stemming from the New Year’s Eve incident.

Mr Rodgers sentenced him to 18 months’ jail with a non-parole period of 12 months for police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously. He also disqualified him from holding a driver’s licence for three years.

On a charge of driving while disqualified, he was convicted and sentenced to nine months’ jail, and a licence disqualification of 12 months (to be served concurrently with the police pursuit sentence).

Reynolds was fined $1200 for speeding (greater than 45km/h over the posted limit) and was convicted on charges of drive unregistered and uninsured with no further penalty.