Abed Beydoun sentenced for dangerous high-speed police pursuit in Blakehurst

Shocking footage shows how police had to chase down an Audi driver who was speeding 123km/h in a 70km/h zone before he led them on a dangerous pursuit through suburban south Sydney streets.

A plumber has avoided jail after he was caught speeding 53km/h over the limit before he refused to pull over and led police on a dangerous pursuit through suburban streets.

Abed Alkarim Beydoun, 22, was sentenced to a jail term to be served in the community at Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday.

The Riverwood man had pleaded not guilty to police pursuit, driving recklessly or furiously in a speed or manner dangerous and exceeding the speed limit by 45km/h.

Magistrate Hugh Donnelly found Beydoun guilty of all offences following a hearing in October.

The court heard two police officers were conducting speed enforcement checks on the Princes Hwy at Blakehurst about 2.50am when they clocked Beydoun, driving a white Audi A6 at up to 123km/h in a 70km/h zone.

Beydoun was sentenced at court on Tuesday. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

Police gave chase, travelled over Tom Ugly’s Bridge and had to reach speeds of 153km/h to gain distance on the car.

Once the officers caught up to the Audi, one constable put the car’s registration plate into their police system and also brought up the licence details of the car’s registered owner, P-plater Abed Alkarim Beydoun.

The officers compared the driver to the licence photo and confirmed his identity.

Beydoun sped off after he turned the street in Carlton and the officers pursued the car, over speed humps, for a short time before it was terminated for safety reasons.

Beydoun abandoned the car nearby and it was found a short time later.

Mr Donnelly found the case proven based on the evidence of the two officers who said they had time to identify Beydoun while stopped and Beydoun’s fingerprints were the only ones found in the driver’s side car handle.

Beydoun claimed he wasn’t the driver at a hearing. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

Mr Donnelly rejected the alibi evidence of Beydoun’s girlfriend – who said she was with him that night – because she was “wasted”.

Beydoun claimed he had lost his keys, his car had been stolen and he was not the driver which Mr Donnelly did not believe.

Mr Donnelly said Beydoun’s driving was “reckless and dangerous” given there were cars on the road as he crossed Tom Ugly’s Bridge.

He also noted police had to make manoeuvres to avoid other cars and had to drive “as fast as they possibly could” to catch up to him.

Mr Donnelly also said the police pursuit occurred in a suburban area, which had speed humps, and Beydoun drove 110km/h in a 50km/h zone where he put others at risk. The court heard Beydoun had 10 speeding offences on his traffic record with several disqualifications, including one only five months after he got his licence.

“His traffic history is appalling and for a young driver to rack up so many offences is extraordinary,” Mr Donnelly said.

“You have totally failed your responsibility as a driver since you got your licence. Your record shows a disobedience to the traffic law and a disregard for safety.”

Mr Donnelly took into account that Beydoun was young and had no criminal history but noted he maintained his innocence and showed no remorse.

The court Beydoun worked as a plumber for seven years but had struggled to find work without his licence.

Beydoun was sentenced to a 16-month intensive correction order where he must complete 300 hours of community service, and he was disqualified from driving for three years.

He was also fined $1800 for the speeding offence.