Convicted criminal Nicholas Coelho sentenced for 160km/h police pursuit in Illawarra

A Berkeley man with an extensive criminal record who was caught speeding at more than double the speed limit on two occasions on the same night has learnt his fate.

Convicted criminal Nicholas Coelho learnt his fate for his latest offending in Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday. ​

A recidivist offender from Berkeley has been hit with a jail sentence after being caught driving at more than 160km/h three months into a 23-month intensive correction order for an ice-fuelled robbery of a pizza boy.

However, Nicholas Coelho won’t spend any further time behind bars with Magistrate Claire Girotto deeming he had “done everything he could” to avoid going to jail after already spending a combined five months in custody on remand and in drug rehabilitation.

The 34-year-old previously pleaded guilty in Wollongong Local Court to being involved in a police pursuit and negligent driving.

Documents tendered in court state police, about 9.40pm on September 10, spotted a hire vehicle turning onto a side street from Windang Rd, Winding.

Police initiated a pursuit as the vehicle mounted the footpath for about 20m before it returned to the road and reached speeds in excess of 160km/h in an 80km/h zone.

Nicholas Coelho was spotted speeding in Windang and Warrawong. Picture: Google Maps

The documents state police sighted the vehicle a short time later on King St, Warrawong, where it turned onto Northcliffe Dr in sped off at 140km/h in a 60km/h zone.

Two days later, about 12.20pm, police spotted the same vehicle reversing out of the driveway of Coelho’s parent’s house in Nolan St, Berkeley.

The driver saw the police and tried to run inside, however, he was caught and identified himself as Nicholas Coelho.

Coelho told police he couldn’t remember the all the details about the pursuits due to consuming alcohol and drugs and when asked why he didn’t stop he told police he didn’t want to go back to jail.

The officers noticed damage along the passenger side of the vehicle which Coelho revealed happened when he “crashed into something” at Lake Heights.

Police attained the vehicle was hired in Coelho’s mother’s name from Hertz Unanderra.

When being sentenced in June 2022 for mugging $50 from a pizza delivery driver, Judge Julia Baly said she accepted Coelho had “effectively rehabilitated himself” and there was no justification to send him to prison.

Judge Baly also warned any further offending would likely see him locked up.

On Tuesday the court heard Coelho’s criminal history extended back to 2007 when he was convicted for a robbery with his lawyer, Matthew Ward, submitting there were “serious matters” on his criminal record which stemmed from “underlying drug abuse”.

Nicholas Coelho leaving Wollongong Courthouse. Picture: Dylan Arvela

The court heard Coelho, who recently gained casual employment with BlueScope, didn’t complete his rehabilitation after being caught vaping and “feeding wildlife”.

Mr Ward told the court his client had also been “working away” at the 300 hours of community service imposed by Judge Baly.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Sean Thackeray took umbrage with the view of Ms Girotto and Mr Ward that Coelho had “done a lot” and regaled a line often spun by another Wollongong magistrate.

“I will quote Magistrate (Michael) O’Brien who often says ‘He who knows he is to be hanged in the morning focuses his mind wonderfully,” Sgt Thackeray said.

“If he had done that in 2007 when he was convicted of a robbery we wouldn’t be here … an ICO does not protect the community.”

Ms Girotto sentenced Coelho to 12-months jail with a non-parole period of five months which with time already served on remand expired on Monday.

“The pursuit was not the worst in terms of length of time, but the speeds were an enormous risk to the community,” the magistrate said.

Coelho was also suspended from driving for 18 months, backdated to the time of the offence.