Nowra: Teen P-plater Ty Hartigan convicted for 120km/h police pursuit

A South Coast P-plater has blamed teenage heartache for a rainy late night police chase after a girlfriend’s ‘thank you, next’, where he reached staggering speeds of 120km/h in a 60 zone.

Ty Hartigan, a P plater, led police on a 120km/h chase in a 60 zone. Picture: Tom McGann

A South Coast P-plater blamed a recent break-up with his girlfriend for sparking a late-night police chase in the rain, where he staggeringly reached speeds of 120km/h in a 60 zone.

Ty Hartigan, 19, appeared in Nowra Local Court on Tuesday, pleading guilty to police pursuit following an incident on November 15 last year.

Agreed facts state the St Georges Basin man was spotted by officers about 10.45pm speeding out of an IGA car park in a Mazda 3 sedan.

Officers began following him, where they then witnessed Hartigan driving over a roundabout and cutting the corner, prompting them to activate their lights in a bid to pull him over.

However instead of stopping, Hartigan accelerated along The Wool Rd near Sanctuary Point where he quickly reached 120km/h along the 60km/h stretch.

Ty Hartigan was sentenced in Nowra Local Court. Picture: John Appleyard

The court heard the pursuit ceased as quickly as it started, with police calling off the chase due to poor weather and low visibility.

Officers instead used Hartigan’s registration to contact his mother, who then phoned Hartigan, urging him to hand himself in.

Ty Hartigan leaving Nowra Local Court. Picture: Tom McGann

At about 11.50pm the same night, Hartigan did just that – presenting himself to Nowra Police Station and making full admissions.

He told police his recent break-up had left him “not thinking right”.

“I’m just not in a good head space at the moment,” agreed facts state he told officers.

Hartigan was charged and his licence was suspended.

In court, Hartigan’s solicitor, Brett Ford, said his teenage client had no criminal history and was a first-year roofing apprentice commuting 120km between Nowra and Batemans Bay.

“He has a great need for a licence,” Mr Ford said.

Mr Ford also submitted the recent break-up clouded Hartigan’s judgment, and even claimed his client did not realise police were chasing him.

But Magistrate Lisa Viney said that was hard to believe.

“You were going double the speed limit,” she said.

“You’re a P-plater and you’ve had the privilege of a licence for a very short time.”

Despite Mr Ford’s push for a non-conviction, citing Hartigan’s record and completion of the Traffic Offender Program, Ms Viney said that would not reflect the seriousness of the offence.

Hartigan was convicted, sentenced to a 12-month community correction order, and disqualified from driving for one year.

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