Goonellabah’s Ezekil Knight jailed after 35km cop chase around Lismore

A Northern Rivers man who took police on a wild 35-kilometre chase through several suburbs of Lismore and found with a 30cm silver blade and boxcutters has been jailed.

Ezekil Knight, of Goonellabah, has been jailed for a slew of driving, police pursuit, and weapons charges.

A Northern Rivers man who took police on a wild chase through several suburbs of Lismore before being found with a 30cm silver blade and boxcutters has been jailed.

Ezekil Knight, 20, appeared in Lismore Local Court via audio visual link before magistrate Peter Stewart on Friday.

He pleaded guilty and was convicted of use etc offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention, police pursuit - not stop - drive dangerously (second offence), drive motor vehicle during disqualification period (second offence), and custody of knife in public place.

Knight was also found guilty of using an unregistered Class A motor vehicle on a road and using an uninsured motor vehicle on road but no conviction was recorded.

The court heard that at 1.36am on September 21, police were patrolling Dibbs St at East Lismore when they saw a vehicle with expired registration.

Knight was sentenced in Lismore Local Court. File picture: Savannah Pocock

A pursuit began after the vehicle “accelerated harshly” when police tried to pull it over.

Police chased Knight up Rotary Drive, Lismore Heights, and onto Ballina Rd and continued to chase him along Ballina Rd when he crossed onto the wrong side of the roadway into oncoming traffic. Police terminated the chase due to safety concerns.

Police then saw Knight drive back into the correct lane and turn onto Rous Rd, where officers again gave chase, pursuing Knight in and around Goonellabah, Lismore CBD, East Lismore and Lismore Heights for a long period of time, police facts state.

Knight crossed onto the wrong side of the road again on Ballina Rd at Lismore Heights and turned into High St where police again terminated the pursuit.

Knight was arrested and taken to Lismore police station where he was charged. (File picture)

Police state Knight drove directly at a marked police vehicle at high speed and allege Knight used the vehicle as a weapon intentionally driving at police to avoid arrest.

Police evaded a collision as Knight sped past them.

Police then deployed covert surveillance of Knight, tracking him to Rotary Dr at Lismore Heights near the intersection of Dixon Place.

The court heard Knight saw officers deploying tyre spikes and again drove at them at speed.

Despite puncturing a tyre Knight continued to drive at speed to Richmond Hill Rd, Richmond Hill where police used more tyre spikes puncturing all four tyres.

Knight’s vehicle stopped at Oliver Ave, Goonellabah, some five kilometres along the road.

Police arrested Knight and found a 30cm silver dagger and a green box cutter under the driver’s seat.

The court heard Knight had an extensive traffic and criminal history with numerous violence offences, police pursuits, continual driving offences, and been found in possession of a knife numerous times, facts state.

A police prosecutor said Knight was an “extreme risk and danger” to the community because he continued to reoffend with similar offences.

A report tendered to the court said Knight had struggled with behavioural issues since he was 16 and had been diagnosed with foetal alcohol syndrome.

Mr Stewart said Knight posed a “real danger” to the community as the “pursuit was in residential areas and on main roads”.

“He continued to drive a stolen vehicle even after puncturing tyre on police deployed road spikes,” Mr Stewart said.

He said the act of driving at police while disqualified was enough to satisfy him a custodial sentence is appropriate.

“The possession of weapons in society has become too common,” he said.

Knight was convicted and sentenced to two and a half years jail with a non-parole period of one year, backdated to his arrest on September 21.

He will be eligible for parole on September 20 next year.

Knight was also disqualified from driving for six years from December 13.

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