Michael Thomas Anthony Wright jailed over reckless Coffs Harbour police pursuit

A disqualified motorist on meth who led cops on a chaotic pursuit through Coffs Harbour deliberately drove like a maniac “to get the chase called off”. Here’s how he’s been punished.

The 4WD’s tyre was down to the metal rim on Toormina Rd.

A meth-fuelled Toormina man spun out his 4WD and slid backwards across three lanes of the Pacific Motorway during a wild on-again, off-again police chase through Coffs Harbour.

In an afternoon of drama, the Mitsubishi Pajero four-wheel drive crashed into two other cars, sped through backstreets and active school zones, and crawled along the highway with one tyre down to the metal rim.

The chase only ended when the man was dragged from a second vehicle and pepper-sprayed.

Michael Thomas Anthony Wright, 33, waved to his family as he appeared via audio visual link in Coffs Harbour Local Court this week on a raft of charges, headlined by police pursuit and dangerous driving.

Police prosecutor Jack Chaffey said Wright’s driving put the public at “enormous” risk.

Coffs Harbour police were forced to call off the chase on two occasions.

After his arrest, Wright told officers he had driven wildly in a bid to “get the chase called off”, police facts state.

According to court documents police were conducting a traffic operation on June 20, when a white Mitsubishi Pajero u-turned across double-lines on Albany St at 2.15pm.

Michael Thomas Anthony Wright led police on a wild chase. File image. Picture: Julian Andrews

The driver accelerated away, crossing unbroken lines, overtaking cars, and speeding at 90kmh in a 50kmh zone on Thompsons Rd and then Aubrey Crescent.

The Pajero moved to turn left onto the Pacific Highway, clipped a gutter, and spun out across three southbound lanes – crashing into the median strip and a Subaru Impreza.

Police facts state the 4WD “accelerated harshly” away and crashed into a Toyota HiLux.

The pursuit was called off and officers checked on the occupants of the damaged cars.

A Highway Patrol officer spotted the Mitsubishi Pajero southbound on the Pacific Highway near Isles Dv.

Minutes later, the Pajero was spotted on the highway near Isles Dr by a Highway Patrol officer on a marked motorcycle.

The 4WD mounted a traffic island, damaged a tyre and ran a red light as another pursuit began.

The tyre was nearly flat as the Pajero drove past the Stadium Dr intersection and into a 100kmh zone – where the vehicle slowed to less than 50kmh.

Michael Thomas Anthony Wright was fast running out of rubber as he took the Sawtell Rd off-ramp.

The 4WD took the Sawtell Rd off-ramp as its tyre disintegrated, wearing down to the metal rim on Toormina Rd.

The 4WD was on the wrong side of the road as it neared the intersection of Mirroola Crescent and motorists were forced to take evasive action to avoid a head-on crash.

Police terminated the pursuit due to safety concerns.

The Mitsubishi’s tyre was down to the metal rim by the time the 4WD reached Toormina Rd. Picture: File

Unmarked police vehicles followed the 4WD discreetly on Lyons Rd, as it performed a U-turn and headed toward Sawtell village.

The stricken Pajero stopped in Linden Ave at 2.50pm and the driver jumped into the back seat of a Toyota Camry.

Near the intersection of Mirroola Cres, the 4WD was on the wrong side of Toormina Rd, forcing oncoming traffic to take evasive action.

Police boxed in the second vehicle and capsicum sprayed the man as they struggled to handcuff him.

Wright told officers: “I didn’t want to get arrested, I thought I might have got away”.

Police asked Wright why he drove on the wrong side of the road and he said he “was trying to get the chase called off”.

Wright tested positive for methamphetamine during a roadside drug test, and checks revealed his licence was disqualified until 2025.

Wright appeared in court only last year in relation to another police pursuit.

Prosecutor Jack Chaffey said Wright’s driving created an “enormous” risk of injury or death.

The fact no one was killed was “good luck, not good management”, Mr Chaffey said.

Defence lawyer Johnathon Paff acknowledged the serious nature of the pursuit.

He said Wright had ongoing issues with illicit drugs.

Police had to use capsicum spray when they arrested Michael Thomas Anthony Wright in Linden Ave. File image. Picture: Trevor Veale

Mr Paff said his client had been able to get his life back on track, until the death this year of his aunt, who had raised him.

Magistrate Ian Rodgers noted Wright had spent vast periods of his adult life in custody and never held a full driver’s licence.

Mr Rodgers said whenever Wright faced challenges he reverted to a “default position” and used drugs.

Wright was convicted of drive vehicle illicit drug present, custody of knife in public place, two counts of drive motor vehicle during disqualification period, drive recklessly/furiously or speed manner dangerous and police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously.

He was jailed for two years, with a non-parole period of 14 months.

Wright will be eligible for release on September 5 next year.