Jake Dawson jailed for dangerous police pursuit across Port Stephens
A Hunter man led police on a wild chance across Port Stephens before sparks started to fly on the vehicle he was driving and he was forced to leg into nearby bushland.
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A Raymond Terrace man, who had already been caught driving disqualified three times and was also on bail, was jailed for leading police on a dangerous high speed pursuit which weaved through a number of suburbs across Port Stephens.
The court heard Jake Dawson had a lengthy criminal wrap sheet before getting into the driver’s seat of a Holden Cruze on June 1 where he reached speeds of up to 150km/h trying to evade police.
The chase started when police tried to pull Dawson over at a random breath test on Trafalgar St, Nelson Bay just before 11pm, but instead he decided to floor it.
Police lost sight of the vehicle several times as it travelled through numerous suburbs including Fingal Bay, Shoal Bay, Salamander Bay and Anna Bay reaching dangerous speeds, according to police facts.
At about 11.13pm, the vehicle sped past police on Marsh road as it headed for Salt Ash, where police successfully deployed road spikes on the Tilligerry bridge.
Despite a “disintegrated” front tyre, Dawson kept driving, but after a rim came off while on the Pacific Highway - the scraping of the drive shaft causing sparks to fly - the vehicle finally came to a stop.
Police facts said Dawson and his passenger - a 29-year-old woman - fled across to the other side of the road and into bushland with police close on their tails.
But with help from the dog squad and police dog Urich, they were both apprehended.
After searching a black sachet around Dawson’s neck, police found a small resealable plastic bag containing 5.7 grams of meth.
The 31-year-old was charged with police pursuit, possessing a prohibited drug, drive whilst disqualified and breach of bail.
In Raymond Terrace Local Court on Monday Dawson was also being sentenced for three charges of disqualified driving, drive recklessly in a manner dangerous, not give particulars to driver, stalk and intimidate and unlawful entry on inclosed lands.
Dawson’s solicitor did admit his client did have a record that “didn’t do him any favours”, but said sending him to jail and throwing away the key wouldn’t do anyone good.
“It is starting to get difficult for a person of his age,” he said.
“I think he realizes he needs to turn himself around.”
Magistrate Brett Shields labelled his driving as “absolutely extreme” and said there was a need to deter him from doing it again.
“The way you are persistently driving is a risk to everyone on the road and the community needs to be protected from you.”
He was convicted on all offences and jailed for 20 months with a non-parole period of one year and three months.
He was also disqualified from driving for at least three years. He’ll be eligible for release in May 2021.