P2 driver Connor Leman busted drink-driving twice in one night after Hawkesbury Brewing Co Christmas party

A P2 driver busted drink-driving twice in one night led police on a 45km-long, high speed pursuit on the freeway trying to “reach Queensland”, a court has heard.

Connor Leman, 25, leaving Wyong Local Court where he was convicted of leading police on a high speed pursuit on the M1 motorway while drunk. It came four hours after he was busted mid-range drink-driving. Picture: NewsLocal

An employee of a popular Central Coast brewer, who had been sober for seven years, was persuaded into having a few drinks at the work Christmas party.

It ended for the 25-year-old when he was forcibly dragged from his car after police deployed road spikes at the end of the freeway following a high speed pursuit.

Incredibly, Connor Leman, of Buff Point, did not remember anything until he woke up in a police cell, a court has heard.

Leman faced Wyong Local Court on Wednesday where he pleaded guilty to failing to stop during a police pursuit, driving while disqualified, driving with a mid-range alcohol reading and high-range drink-driving.

Leman’s solicitor, leading Central Coast criminal lawyer Bobby Locker, told the court his client worked for Hawkesbury Brewing Co and had been sober for seven years.

Leman worked at Hawkesbury Brewing Co on the Pacific Highway at Lisarow. Picture: Google

He said he was convinced by some colleagues into having a few drinks at the work Christmas party and “has no recollection” of the incident.

“The next thing he knows he’s in jail,” Mr Locker said.

Leman didn’t recollect anything from the night which saw him locked up twice for drink-driving. Picture: NewsLocal

An agreed set of facts states police were performing random breath tests on Central Coast Highway at Forresters Beach about 8pm on December 20 when they directed Leman to stop.

He failed a roadside test and was taken to The Entrance Police Station where he recorded a mid-range blood alcohol reading of 0.149 – just a smidgen under the high range starting point of 0.150.

Less than four hours later police were performing radar speed checks on the M1 motorway at Warnervale when they clocked Leman’s white Toyota Camry travelling a blistering 201km/h in the 110km/h zone.

Police gave chase and caught up to Leman 10km down the road at Morisset where he refused to pull over.

Leman worked at Hawkesbury Brewing Co and had been celebrating the company’s Christmas party before his night all frothed over. (File image)

Police initiated a pursuit and Leman was clocked reaching speeds of 140km/h to 185km/h for a distance of about 35km.

About 3km south of Black Hill Rd police deployed road spikes and brought the Camry to a grinding halt before “forcibly’ removing Leman from the driver’s seat.

Police had to deploy road spikes to stop him. (file image)

“The accused was cautioned in relation to the pursuit, where he advised police he was trying to get to Queensland.” the facts states.

“The accused admitted to walking back to the white Camry and wanted to drive to reach Queensland.”

He told police he had drunk more alcohol after he was booked the first time.

Leman was taken to Toronto Police Station where he returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.162.

Magistrate Trevor Khan said high speed pursuits were “way too common and result in death and serious injury to the public”.

“If you hit anything, the likelihood is you would have killed someone,” Mr Khan told Leman.

“It’s one of the most serious examples of police pursuit I have seen and I’ve seen some crackers.”

Mr Khan convicted Leman and sentenced him to an 18-month intensive corrections order with 100 hours of community service.

He fined him a total of $2250 and disqualified him for two years with a further two years on an interlock device.