Travis Sorger, 22, jailed over wild police pursuit from Hamlyn Terrace to Yarramalong
A mother broke down wailing and had to be helped from the court after her son was jailed over a high-speed pursuit in which he ran red lights and drove on the wrong side of the road.
Central Coast
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Court Sheriffs had to intervene when a woman broke down and started wailing after her son was sent to jail over a wild pursuit from Hamlyn Terrace to west of Yarramalong.
Travis Sorger, 22, of Hamlyn Terrace, was led away by Corrective Services officers when he was sentenced to 10 months jail with a non-parole period of eight months at Wyong Local Court on Monday.
His mother had to be restrained by Mr Sorger’s father as she began crying and wailing “that’s my son” and “no” with the Magistrate taking a short adjournment until court sheriffs could get the situation under control.
The court heard Sorger was suspended from driving after police noticed him swerving across unbroken lines on June 6 last year and he later recorded a mid-range blood alcohol reading of 0.122.
A little over a month later about 11.45pm on Friday, July 17, he was detected by Traffic & Highway Patrol officers conducting speed checks on Warnervale Rd travelling 72km/h in a 50km/h zone.
An agreed set of facts states police caught up to the gold coloured Ford Kuga on Georgia Drive and activated their lights and sirens signalling the driver to stop but Sorger accelerated away and turned into Primrose Drive, onto Warnervale Rd and onto Sparks Rd.
The facts state Sorger reached speeds of 170km/h in the signposted 70km/h zone along Sparks Rd before running a red light at the intersection of Minnesota Rd at 130km/h.
Police facts further state Sorger reached speeds of about 190km/h on the M1 before taking the Wyong Rd exit, and travelling on the wrong side of the road until he reached Old Maitland Rd.
The court heard Sorger then turned onto Yarramalong Rd where he turned his lights off and on a number of times reaching speeds of up to 160km/h.
“During the accused’s time on this stretch of roadway, he crossed the unbroken lane lines no less than eight times, often entering blind corners on the incorrect side of the road way,” the facts state.
The court heard Sorger continued onto the unsealed Ravensdale Rd hitting speeds of 120km/h.
“The accused’s vehicle continued up to a dead-end where upon reaching a sealed fence and gated driveway, the accused’s vehicle came to a stop, with the driver leaving the motor vehicle and running from police in a north westerly direction jumping the fence,” the police facts state.
Police said he left his male passenger sitting in the car.
His passenger was taken to Wyong Police Station but was later released without being charged.
Tuggerah Lakes Police, with assistance from Police Rescue, the Dog Unit and SES crews searched the surrounding area, however, Sorger was not located.
The next day Sorger handed himself in at Wyong where the police facts state he made certain admissions during a notebook record of interview.
Sorger pleaded guilty to mid-range drink-driving, driving while disqualified, failing to stop during the police pursuit and exceeding the speed limit.
He also pleaded guilty to common assault after he pushed someone while out celebrating his partner’s birthday at the Star Casino on November 23 last year.
His solicitor told the court Sorger had been diagnosed with a poly substance use disorder and turned to alcohol and cannabis as a “form of escape”.
However his solicitor said Sorger had since been seeking treatment, realised dugs and alcohol “is not for him” and recently started a pressure cleaning business.
His solicitor sought a community corrections order (CCO) but Magistrate Caleb Franklin said the criminality of the pursuit crossed the threshold where the only appropriate penalty was jail.
Mr Franklin said Sorger “abandoned all responsibility” and had crossed double lines, entered blind corners on the wrong side of the road and turned his headlights off several times.
He fined Sorger a total of $1050, put him on a CCO for 18 months and disqualified him from driving for 12 months for the drink-driving, driving while disqualified, speeding and assault offences.
Mr Franklin then jailed Sorger for 14 months with a non-parole period of eight months for the pursuit offence.
He will be eligible for parole on January 23 next year.
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