Joshua James Hughes in Taree court for drink drive, police chase, house crash

Just hours after a young P-plater was arrested for drink driving he got back behind the wheel, crashed into a house and ran from police through the streets of a Mid-North Coast town.

Taree police station and courthouse.

Just hours after a young P-plater was arrested for drink driving he got back behind the wheel, crashed into a house and ran from police through the streets of Taree.

At one point the search for Joshua James Hughes – after he wrecked his modified silver Holden Commodore crashing into a house – drew a crowd of more than 40 people in the middle of the night, according to court documents.

Hughes, 20, faced Taree Local Court on Tuesday and pleaded guilty to the first matter of mid range drink driving at about 12.40am on February 9 along Wingham Road at Taree.

The carpenter, who lives with his mother, blew 0.105 and his eyes were glazed according to court documents.

He was unsteady on his feet and barefoot.

Joshua James Hughes at Taree court.

Wearing a ‘THRILLS’ t-shirt he told police he had not been drinking that night but “had a massive night on Friday where I got blackout drunk”.

After his run in with the law and his licence was suspended on the spot, Hughes got back behind the wheel, and about two hours later drew the attention of police with officers hearing the “loud modified exhaust harshly accelerate”.

Joshua Hughes at Taree Local Court on June 17, 2025.

According to court documents his car then left the road and smashed into a house along Alonbar Cres, which runs off Kanangra Dr.

Snapping two large palm trees and smashing into the corner of the house, the car had to later be towed from the scene.

Police saw Hughes’ sunglasses on the ground and fresh blood on the top of a colourbond fence and called out to him as he ran from the scene.

By that time multiple emergency service organisations were on scene and people had come out into the street to see what was happening.

In relation to the second incident Hughes was charged with driving without a licence, engaging in a police pursuit, driving under the influence of alcohol, not giving particulars to the owner of damaged property and not giving particulars to the police.

Hughes also pleaded guilty to these offences and appeared before Magistrate Allison Hawkins for sentencing on Tuesday.

She warned he could be facing time behind bars and ordered a report to assess his suitability for home detention.

The matter was adjourned to August 4.

Hughes has also been charged with a number of domestic violence offences including stalking and intimidation and contravening a prohibition in an apprehended domestic violence order, to which he has pleaded not guilty.

These matters have been set down for a hearing on September 25.