Mitchell Sutton jailed for police pursuit through Merewether while on parole and on his L plates

A man on parole and only on his L’s has tried to flee from police only to be stopped when his vehicle smashed into another car, which then careered into the front of a Newcastle business.

Sutton was jailed in Newcastle District Court on Friday. Supplied Amy Ziniak

On parole and with only a learner licence a late night drive turned into a frantic chase with police before the vehicle smashed into an oncoming car which then slammed into the front of a Newcastle business.

Mitchell Sutton, 30, failed to stop on January 11 last year when police tried to pull him over at Hamilton South, a check revealing he was only a L plater and was subject to a weapons prohibition order.

The court heard Sutton “accelerated harshly” and continued towards the Prince Hotel at Merewether, reaching speeds of 80km/h in a 60km/h zone, before he drove through a red light and went onto the wrong side of the road.

His erratic driving resulted in a collision on City Rd with the impact forcing the other vehicle onto its side before smashing into the front of a local business.

The court heard while the other driver was luckily uninjured, Sutton was at first trapped before a windshield was broken to retrieve and arrest him. Both were taken to John Hunter Hospital.

Sutton was on parole and on his learners license when he engaged in a pursuit with police.

A search of his vehicle also uncovered nine grams of methamphetamine before police seized a silencer during a raid of a Hamilton South address the following day.

Sutton pleaded guilty to charges of police pursuit, drug supply, and possession of a weapon subject to a prohibition order.

In Newcastle District Court on Friday Judge Peter McGrath sentenced the 30-year-old to 20 months jail with a non-parole period of 14 months.

He also imposed a 15-month and a three-month disqualification from driving and a $50 fine for not having someone with him while driving as an L-plater.

The court heard Sutton did feel “embarrassed” about what he had done, with his defence barrister Ben Bickford claiming there was evidence of remorse saying he appeared to be “completely genuine”.

The court also heard the 30-year-old had a significant criminal history but had been exposed to social depravation.

“He has experienced it all,” Mr McGrath said.