Alex Kevin Crabbe, 20, loses licence after fleeing a police RBT

A northern NSW P-plater who downed just one cocktail and had THC in his system thought it would be a clever idea to pull a U-turn and speed away from cops conducting RBTs.

An Alstonville P2 driver who downed a cocktail then threw a U-turn and sped away from an RBT stop with two mates in the back had alcohol and drugs in his system.

A young P2 driver who downed just one cocktail before chucking a U-turn at the sight of a police RBT stop and speeding off told cops he “just panicked”.

Alex Kevin Crabbe, 20, of Alstonville, appeared before Magistrate Michael Dakin on Tuesday.

He pleaded guilty to police pursuit - not stop - driving recklessly, and being a novice driver exceeding mandatory novice PCA.

The court heard the aged care worker was out with friends and consumed one cocktail at a hotel in Lismore on Saturday, March 1.

About 9.32pm, police observed Crabbe in a silver Mazda 3 sedan heading south over the Wilson St bridge onto Union St at South Lismore where he approached police who were conducting stationary testing, facts state.

Police tried to flag down Crabbe but he sped away from the testing site instead.

The court heard when police signalled Crabbe to enter the site he did a U-turn and sped off in opposite direction.

Police clocked Crabbe travelling between 85-90kph and turning left onto Bridge St as police chased him into North Lismore.

Union St, South Lismore where police saw Crabbe perform a U-turn and speed from their RBT site.

About 150m along Terania St Crabbe stopped and was arrested by police, facts state.

The court heard officers observed Crabbe as “slightly affected” by alcohol and saw his eyes were watering.

Upon testing, Crabbe retuned a novice alcohol reading of 0.016, telling police he had one 330ml cocktail at the Sherwood Hotel at 9.10pm and no food, facts state.

An oral fluid test revealed a positive result to THC.

Terania St, North Lismore where Crabbe was arrested for police pursuit - not stop - drive recklessly and novice driver drive with novice range PCA.

Crabbe had two other adult passengers in the rear seat during the pursuit and when asked why he fled he told police: “I just panicked”.

Police confiscated his licence on site.

Mr Dakin convicted Crabbe, and disqualified him from holding a drivers licence for 12 months.

Crabbe was also slapped with a nine month community correction order and fined $300.

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