Kathryn Louise Johnson sentenced over police pursuit through Killarney Vale and Bateau Bay

A mum who led police on an 11km police chase through Killarney Vale and Bateau Bay before crashing into a pedestrian crossing has been sentenced.

A SERIAL driving offender, who led police on a pursuit through Killarney Vale and Bateau Bay, has been sent to jail.

Kathryn Louise Johnson appeared via audio visual link in Wyong Local Court on Monday where she was sentenced to two years imprisonment with a non-parole period of 18 months.

The 35-year-old mum was convicted of four sets of charges, relating to offences of driving while disqualified, driving while affected by drugs and drink driving between February and June 2020. The court heard that around 10.40pm on June 24, Johnson led police on a wild 11km-long pursuit through Killarney Vale and Bateau Bay, which attracted the attention of hundreds of social media users.

Kathryn Louise Johnson, of Killarney Vale, led police on a pursuit which ended in her crashing her car. Picture: Facebook

Johnson was initially seen by police hitting high speeds and had a “puff of smoke” coming from the exhaust of her Kia Sportage

Magistrate Elizabeth Ellis said she reached speeds between 80km/h and 130km/h before she lost control of the car near the intersection of Shortland St and Wyong Rd and crashed into the pedestrian crossing light.

The pursuit ended in the mum crashing. Pictures: Facebook

As police approached the vehicle, Johnson reversed and narrowly missed an officer’s feet before being arrested.

A breathe test recorded a mid range drink driving reading of 0.098 and officers also found 7g of cannabis on Johnson.

Magistrate Ellis said Johnson had six prior drive while disqualified offences, two drive while affected by drug matters and one high range drink driving matter. She said the many attempts by the court to help Johnson through drug programs and other measures had been unsuccessful.

Johnson was sentenced at Wyong Local Court.

“You are almost trying to show that no matter what is given to you by way of assistance and alternatives, you are determined to use (drugs),” she said. Johnson, who represented herself, said her substance abuse recovery was going to be a long journey however made no excuses for her actions.

“I am truly sorry for endangering the community with my actions and the remorse I feel is beyond bearable and crippling,” she said.

“I take full responsibility for my actions”.

With time already spent in custody, Johnson will be eligible for parole on April 30, 2022. Magistrate Ellis said she hadn’t managed to officially count how many years she would be disqualified from driving, however described it as “many, many years … around eight to 10”.