Nathan Phee: Woodford Island man sentenced for driving under influence of drugs, trying to bite police officers

A northern NSW jailbird who was locked up after leading police on a wild car chase and trying to bite two officers has landed back in court.

Nathan Phee was sentenced at Grafton Local Court

A northern NSW jailbird who was locked up after a wild police pursuit which involved him ramming his car through a wire fence has once again found himself before the courts.

Woodford Island man Nathan Phee, 37, fronted Grafton Local Court, where he pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of meth.

The charge was linked to a string of offending which saw Phee spend months behind bars, the court heard.

Last September, the 37-year-old received a 12-month prison sentence, with a non-parole period of seven months.

He was convicted of driving an unregistered car, driving an uninsured car, driving while disqualified, two counts of police pursuit, damaging property and two counts of resisting police officers.

Nathan Phee leaving Grafton Local Court.

Phee caught the attention of police after numerous members of the public made complaints about his erratic driving on South Arm School Rd, Woodford Island, according to court documents.

He did not stop when police activated lights and sirens on their vehicle.

Officers followed Phee along various sealed and unsealed roads in the Brushgrove and Maclean areas “before the pursuit was terminated due to (Phee) crossing to the incorrect side of the road”, police facts state.

Police again spotted Phee driving along Jubilee St, Townsend about 8:20pm – and again the 37-year-old did not stop when required to do so.

Road spikes were put in place and Phee’s vehicle ran over them, but he continued driving over Mcfarlane Bridge.

“(He then) crossed over Golf Links Rd … before ramming a wire boundary fence, pushing his way though and entering the car park of the Maclean golf course,” police facts state.

The vehicle eventually came to a stop and Phee resisted arrest.

He became aggressive when police tried to take him to hospital to obtain samples for analysis.

“(Phee) had to be forcibly restrained so a blood sample could be taken … he attempted to bite two officers,” police facts state.

Nathan Phee.

In court, defence lawyer Joseph Fahey said Phee was affected by drugs at the time of the offending, but managed to stay clean since his time behind bars.

The court also heard on Monday Phee was back living with his mother and planning to attend Southern Cross University.

Magistrate Juliana Crofts said she was pleased Phee seemed to be taking positive steps towards rehabilitation since his time behind bars.

She convicted Phee and sentenced him to a 12-month community corrections order.

He was also disqualified from driving for 12 months.