Christopher David Armstrong sentenced at Picton Local Court for speeding at 80km/h zone in 160km/h zone

The speeding could have led to a fatal crash, according to police. Read what happened in court after the young father pleaded guilty to driving 160km/h.

A father of four who was clocked by police speeding at double the limit in an 80km/h zone made a “stupid decision”, a court has heard.

Christopher David Armstrong, 30, fronted Picton Local Court on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to driving at a dangerous speed, upon which the prosecution withdrew a charge exceeding the speed limit by more than 45km/h.

Court documents stated that about 11.4pm on Jan 14, police saw the Narellan Vale man driving a Blue Ford Falcon ute before turning left onto Narellan Rd from Gilchrist Dr before it accelerated harshly travelling 70 to 80km/h in a 60km/r zone.

Police caught up and positioned themselves behind the car and checked his speed which by then was 160km/h in an 80km/h zone.

The officers stopped the car, and Armstrong told them: “I’m sorry I’m having issues with the car”.

“Police are of the opinion that if Armstrong was to lose control of his vehicle for whatever reason, due to his speed and nil margin for error, the consequences to him and other motorists would have been fatal,” the police facts stated.

Christopher David Armstrong (left) was sentenced at Picton Local Court on June 22 after pleading guilty to driving 160km/h in a 80km/h zone. He was convicted and placed on a community corrections order for 12 months. Picture: Annie Lewis

In court on Wednesday, lawyer Kruz Cupitt said that Armstrong had made a “stupid decision”.

“There is no way of getting around it, that is an extraordinary speed and inappropriate,” he said.

“The weather was fine, police describe it as being in low traffic … but there was significant risk given the manner of driving.

“He didn’t intend to speed to that extent … [he] accepts full responsibility for those actions.”

Mr Cupitt told the court Armstrong had a strong need for his licence as he was a father of four, adding that Armstrong had lost his job when he was disqualified from driving.

Christopher David Armstrong (right) was convicted and placed on a community corrections order for 12 months. Picture: Annie Lewis

“He is a person who has not got a significant history but it’s certainly not unblemished,” he said.

Magistrate Mark Douglass said the speeding was a “serious” example of the type of offence, but was not the “worst case”.

“The community needs to understand, this could lead to death,” he said.

Magistrate Douglass took into account the early plea of guilty, steps that Armstrong had taken since the offending and his need for a licence.

Armstrong was convicted, sentenced to a 12-month community corrections order, and fined $850. He was also disqualified from driving for 12 months, backdated to begin from when he was charged with the offence.