Starkey St, Forestville: Mt Druitt driver Rodney Byrnes pleads guilty to high speed police chase

He hadn’t held a licence since 1998, but that didn’t stop a driver from trying to outrun police in a high speed chase on the northern beaches. See what the court decided

Rodney Melrose Byrnes, 44, from Sydney’s west, who had his licence disqualified in 1998 and led police on a chase through suburban streets on the northern beaches late last year, has appeared in Manly Local Court. File picture: iStock

A dangerous disqualified driver, who hasn’t held a licence for 27 years, led police on a high speed chase through the backstreets of the northern beaches.

Rodney Melrose Byrnes, 44, from western Sydney, tore over a round-a-about in Killarney Heights at 100km/h while trying to evade police in November last year.

He was driving a friend’s borrowed Ford sedan despite having his licence taken off him by authorities in 1998.

The car detailer from Dharruk, near Mount Druitt, has never been able to regain his licence due to multiple convictions for driving while disqualified.

Byrnes was described by police in documents tendered to Manly Local Court on Wednesday as a “recidivist traffic offender”.

A reserve ( far right) at the end of Starkey St, Killarney Heights, where Rodney Melrose Brynes crashed a car into a stand of trees after trying to evade police. Picture: Google Maps

The court heard that Byrnes told a male friend who was in the car with him that he could not stop for police chasing him on November 8 because “I can’t get caught”.

Byrnes pleaded guilty on Wednesday to one count each of police pursuit at speed, driving while disqualified and not stopping at a red light.

A charge of negligent driving was withdrawn by police.

Byrnes had originally pleased not guilty to the charges, telling police that the other man in the car was the driver.

In a facts sheet tendered to court police stated that a patrol car spotted Byrnes behind the wheel of the Ford in Willandra Rd, Beacon Hill, at 6.50pm before it turned right onto Warringah Rd.

When police turned on their lights and siren, the car accelerated away from them at speed and police decided not to give chase.

Rodney Byrnes will be sentenced in Mount Druitt Local Court in April Picture: Supplied

The car was seen again by police soon after on Warringah Rd, Forestville, where it went through a red light while turning left into Starkey St.

Police chased the car down Starkey St, where it was seen going over a round-a-about at Cannons Pde, Forestville, at 100km/h.

Officers then terminated the pursuit due to concerns for the safety of the public and other road users.

Soon after, police found Byrnes and the other man standing outside a house in Starkey St, Killarney Heights. The car had crashed into a small stand of trees in a nearby reserve.

The facts sheet stated that police had CCTV showing Byrnes exiting the driver's side of the car after the crash.

At a previous appearance in Manly court on November 9, Byrnes called the female magistrate a “slut” after she refused to give him bail

He also shouted at Magistrate Margaret McGlynn that “your mother’s a slut too” as he beamed into Manly Local Court via audiovisual link from the neighbouring police station.

Byrnes yelled “f — k the courts” and commented that “your system sucks d — k” seconds after his bail bid was rejected.

Magistrate Robyn Denes adjourned the matters for sentence to Mount Druitt Local Court on April 18. Byrnes, who is in custody, did not apply for bail.