Marcus Betts faces Byron Bay court for Evans Head police pursuit

One of four teens allegedly involved in a stolen car chase has learnt his fate for his role in a wild ride that ended with police spikes and a chase on foot.

A teenager arrested after an alleged stolen car chase had only spent days on parole before being caught by police again, a court has heard.

Marcus Betts, 19, pleaded guilty in Byron Bay Local Court on Monday to being a passenger in an allegedly stolen car.

Police will allege Betts and three other teens were in a white Mazda ute when it became involved in a police pursuit from Newrybar to Woodburn about 5pm on January 2.

An initial pursuit was called off due to dangerous driving before a second pursuit was initiated.

Road spikes were then successfully deployed at Woodburn-Evans Head Road, Woodburn, near the M1 Motorway overpass.

Police allege that when the vehicle stopped, all four occupants fled the scene on foot, before the driver and the front seat passenger were arrested.

They will further allege one of the teens stole the car from a home at Old Bar on New Year’s Day.

Betts’s solicitor Annabel Wurth told the court her client had ADHD and depression when applying for bail on his behalf on Monday.

But Magistrate Karen Stafford said they were “inadequate” reasons for release.

Ms Wurth then submitted sentence submissions including the fact that Betts had positive family influences and work lined up before his “unfortunate” role in the chase.

She said Betts had been out of jail for four days when he became involved with old friends and their trouble.

“He tells me he wants nothing to do with them otherwise it will just be a revolving door of jail,” Ms Wurth said.

“He wasn’t involved in the theft of this car … he was picked up by his friends and things got out of hand.”

Ms Stafford said the prosecution’s case was strong as she sought out further community corrections information.

“He has a very long history for someone who is so young,” she said.

On Tuesday, Magistrate Stafford convicted Betts and sentenced him to six months in jail.

He will be eligible for release on July 1, 2022.

The remaining three teens, two aged 15 and one aged 17, are all set to appear before a Lismore Children’s Court at a later date.

The 17-year-old was charged with police pursuit driving dangerously, exceeding the speed limit over 45km/h, being an unaccompanied learner not displaying L plates, driving a conveyance without consent of the owner and breach of bail.

The two 15-year-olds were charged with being carried in conveyance without consent of owner.