Conor Jackson MacDonald faces court after evading police while drink driving, fiery crash near Evans Head

A North Coast P-plater who faced court in a neck brace for “lifelong” injuries sustained in a drink-driving crash after evading police has jogged off without conviction, brace in hand.

Conor Jackson MacDonald outside Lismore Local Court.

A Coraki P-plater who faced court wearing a neck brace for “lifelong” injuries sustained in a drink-driving crash after evading police jogged away without conviction, brace in hand.

Lismore Local Court was told Conor Jackson MacDonald, 19, dodged police twice while over the limit before the fiery crash on January 22.

In the court, defence lawyer Guy Draper told Magistrate Michael Dakin his client – who was wearing the brace – suffered debilitating and lifelong injuries when he was launched through the windshield of his crashed car after he fled police twice in one night while drink driving.

Conor Jackson MacDonald outside Lismore Local Court.

MacDonald, who pleaded guilty to mid-range drink driving, was seen on CCTV leaving Hotel Illawong, Evans Head and hopping into a Silver Subaru about midnight on January 22.

He reversed the car onto Oak St, in front of a marked police vehicle, and the officer inside activated the lights to pull MacDonald over for a breath test.

MacDonald instead “drove at speed” west on Park St and right onto Booyong St, agreed facts in court documents state.

Police did not chase MacDonald due to the speed his vehicle was travelling, but later spotted the Subaru on Currajong St.

MacDonald’s vehicle entered a roundabout, went right onto Woodburn St and sped toward Woodburn.

Police followed, but MacDonald was driving so fast they lost sight of him.

Hotel Illawong, Evans Head.

Coming up to a right-hand bend, police noticed debris over the road.

They found MacDonald’s Subaru on its roof in the middle of the road, with the engine on fire.

“(MacDonald) had been partially ejected from the vehicle though the front passenger window and was lying on the roadway,” the documents state.

MacDonald was flown to Gold Coast University Hospital and treated for “numerous injuries” including “spinal and brain” injuries.

A follow-up blood alcohol test recorded 0.128 – more than double the legal limit for fully licenced drivers. P-plate drivers must record zero.

Police state in the documents: “The risk placed upon himself and other members of the community was extreme.”

But Mr Draper told Mr Dakin that MacDonald had already been sufficiently penalised by the consequences of his actions.

He told the court MacDonald suffered lasting effects including a “cognitive impairment”.

Conor Jackson MacDonald outside the court.

“It is no exaggeration to say he has suffered severely from his mistake and it will not be repeated,” Mr Draper said.

“These consequences of his actions will be lifelong.”

Mr Dakin said MacDonald made a conscious decision to drive while drunk and flee police.

However, Mr Dakin told the court MacDonald’s injuries elicited “compassion and sympathy”.

Mr Dakin sentenced MacDonald to a two-year conditional release order and a conviction was not recorded.

MacDonald's licence was suspended until he is deemed to have satisfied authorities “he is a fit and proper person or medically approved to hold a driver‘s licence”.

As he walked through the doors out of court, MacDonald held the neck brace in his hands, walked down the stairs and broke into a jog to cross the road.