Nathan Raymond Caldow busted for high-speed police chase through Goulburn

A man disqualified from driving until 2026 turned his lights off and sped away from police through the streets of Goulburn despite having a teenager in the car.

A Goulburn man led police on a high-speed chase through the town’s residential streets with a teenager in the car, despite being disqualified from driving for five more years.

Nathan Raymond Caldow, 39, appeared via video link in Goulburn Local Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to exceeding the speed limit by more than 45 km/hr, causing a police pursuit by failing to stop, and driving a motor vehicle while disqualified.

The auto-electrician was driving his blue Holden Commodore through Goulburn at 11.30pm on April 30 when police attempted to stop him. Instead of stopping, the court heard Caldow did a brazen U-turn in front of the cops and sped away.

Police clocked Caldow doing 118km/h in a 60km/h residential zone with no headlights on as he sped away. The court heard police gave chase and caught up to the Commodore at Fitzroy St, but Caldow refused to stop.

Nathan Raymond Caldow appeared at Goulburn Local Court in his prison greens.

According to court documents, he continued to race through the streets, driving at twice the signposted speed before stopping at his father’s house. When he exited the car, police saw a teenager was in the car.

Caldow told police he had been trying to drop the teenager at his father’s house before he went back to jail. Police facts show he revealed he was disqualified from driving until 2026 and had been in several previous police pursuits.

Caldow’s lawyer told the court the incident was a result of his client’s bipolar disorder.

“He had a manic episode,” he said.

“It was during the manic episode that this behaviour occurred.”

His lawyer said Caldow understood the “inappropriateness” of having a child in the car and travelling at twice the speed limit and was remorseful for his actions.

“He understands he needs significant medical intervention,” he said.

Magistrate Geraldine Beattie agreed there were special circumstances to consider.

“You are on very significant medication,” she told Caldow.

“You’ve made the decision to stop taking it which has affected your ability to control your illness.”

She also noted Caldow was “extremely insightful” in relation to his long-standing alcohol addiction and his enthusiasm for rehabilitation.

However, Magistrate Beattie told the court the “actual danger” of the offence was worsened by the presence of the child.

“(Y)ou’ve put his life at significant risk by travelling at such high speeds with him in the car,” she said.

Court documents show Caldow has an extensive criminal history, with convictions for drunk, negligent and dangerous driving.

The magistrate sentenced Caldow to 18 months imprisonment with a non-parole period of nine months. Caldow is also disqualified from driving until 2028.

“Bottom line – don’t drive,” Magistrate Beattie told him.