Long Jetty: Ronald Godbold pleads guilty to police pursuit

The loss of personal items including photographs of his family “triggered” an ex-criminal back into a world of drug abuse before leading police on a pursuit, a court has heard.

Ronald Godbold had been released on parole for a week when he found out his ex-girlfriend had thrown out a number of his personal items and souvenirs — including photographs of his family — while he was inside.

That, combined with “struggles” to reintegrate with the community on his release, was enough to “trigger” him back into drug abuse, a court heard.

The 30-year-old appeared at Wyong Local Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to leading police on a pursuit, driving while disqualified and resisting an officer in the execution of their duty.

The court heard Godbold had been released on parole on January 25 after serving one year and five months of a two-year jail sentence for similar offences including driving while disqualified, failing to stop during a police pursuit and goods in custody.

Godbold had been released on parole a week before he led police on another pursuit. (File image)

Godbold’s Legal Aid solicitor said her client’s biggest struggle “currently and in recent years” was being released into the community without stable accommodation.

She said when he found out an ex-partner had thrown out some of his personal items, including photographs of his family, it was the “trigger” back onto drugs.

Magistrate Justin Peach said Godbold’s offending had been “aggravated significantly” by the fact he had been released on bail just days earlier for similar offences.

Magistrate Peach sentenced him to three years and six months jail with a non-parole period of two years and two months.

With time served since his arrest he will be eiligible for release on June 3, 2024.

Godbold was also disqualified from driving for a further three years.

EARLIER FROM FEBRUARY 28, 2022

A disqualified learner driver, who had just been released on parole, led police on a brief pursuit before crashing into another car, trapping the female driver, a court has heard.

Ronald Godbold, 30, of Killarney Vale, did not appear via video link when his matter was mentioned briefly at Wyong Local Court on Monday.

Instead his Legal Aid solicitor entered guilty pleas on his behalf to three charges including failing to stop during a police pursuit, driving while disqualified and resisting police.

An agreed set of police facts states officers were patrolling the lake side reserve along Tuggerah Parade, Long Jetty, shortly before 11am on Friday, February 4, when they passed a Nissan X-Trail travelling in the opposite direction.

Thumbs up if you’re going to jail? Ronald Godbold, 30, of Killarney Vale, is facing another stint behind bars for his pursuit. Picture: Facebook.

The window was open and police recognised Godbold and did a U-turn to catch up and pull him over.

However the facts state Godbold turned left into Surf St and accelerated away.

Police initiated a pursuit which ended when Godbold collided with another vehicle as he sped through the roundabout at Watkins and Pacific streets.

“Here the accused came to a stop and attempted to flee the location by jumping out of the window of the driver’s door,” the facts state.

“Police stopped their vehicles, alighted and ran towards the accused. He was commanded to stop however, he ran towards a house, police took hold of him and yelled ‘Stop you’re under arrest’ the accused wrestled out of this and attempted to continue running yelling ‘I’m not going to back to jail’.”

Godbold was yelling that he didn’t want to go back to jail but he more than likely will get more time in custody when he his sentenced at Wyong Local Court next month. (AAP Image/Sue Graham)

Police caught up to him again and tackled him to the ground where he again yelled “I’m not going to jail”.

The 24-year-old female driver of the other car was trapped for some time in her Toyota Corolla before she was freed and taken to John Hunter Hospital with a suspected broken collar bone.

The facts state Godbold had been released on parole a week earlier on January 25 and was the holder of a disqualified learner driver’s licence.

Godbold, who’s 63-page criminal history was tendered to court, was ordered to undergo a pre-sentence report before he was adjourned to reappear on March 9.