Aminiasi Waqatairewa naked during high-speed police pursuit

A Sydney man was naked and afraid when he led police on a pursuit at 170km/h in Sydney’s south and nearly wiped out on a busy road in the middle of the night.

Aminiasi Waqatairewa (red hat) pleaded guilty in Sutherland Local Court to charges of speeding at 170km/h while driving naked.

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A Sydney man was naked and afraid when he led police on a pursuit at 170km/h in Sydney’s south and nearly wiped out on a busy road in the middle of the night.

Aminiasi Waqatairewa, 23, had only a sarong to cover his otherwise naked body when he was apprehended by police after the high speed chase in Brighton Le Sands on December 29.

Waqatairewa pleaded guilty to the police pursuit, being an unaccompanied learner, not displaying L plates, possessing cannabis and driving at dangerous speeds before Magistrate Peter Bugden at Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday.

“I’m sure that whether it’s me or someone else at your sentencing, they will want to know the answer to the question of why your client was doing 170km/h on a very busy road when he was in the nude,” Mr Bugden said.

Police had attempted to pull Waqatairewa over for a random roadside breath test on General Holmes Dr in Kyeemagh at 4.15am when he evaded officers.

Police conduct about 5,000,000 breath tests each year in NSW.

Waqatairewa almost struck a police officer as he accelerated harshly away, reaching speeds of 170km/h in a 70km/h zone.

“The accused passed Bay St in Brighton Le Sands where the accused almost lost control of his vehicle,” agreed police facts stated.

“The tyres lost contact with the roadway and smoke was seen to emit from the tyres.”

Waqatairewa came to a stop near President Ave where he emerged from the car.

“The accused was not wearing any other clothes other than a sarong draped over his lap,” agreed police facts stated.

Waqatairewa admitted to owning a small plastic bag containing one gram of cannabis officers found on the front seat.

“The accused was asked why he did not stop when directed,” the police facts stated.

“He said ‘I’m sorry I just didn’t want to stop.’

“Police asked if it was because he had a learner licence and the accused said ‘yes that’s why, I’m sorry’.”