Steven Dawson: Nowra labourer who led cops on car chase thought resisting arrest was ‘funny’

A South Coast labourer who led police on a drunken chase through a residential neighbourhood in a new car hours after making the purchase thought it was funny at the time. Read how he changed his tune in court.

A drunken Nowra labourer who blew more than three times the legal limit following a midnight police pursuit thought his attempts to resist arrest were “funny”, a court has heard.

Steven Dawson pleaded guilty at Nowra Local Court on Tuesday to speeding, evading police, driving dangerously, driving with a high-range PCA, and resisting arrest after the pursuit through Bomaderry on March 13.

The 38-year-old was first spotted by a Highway Patrol Unit on Meroo Rd travelling about 100km in a 50km area before fleeing, according to agreed police facts.

Officers gave chase before Dawson came to a stop near the intersection of Neale Pl.

“Dawson was informed he was under arrest and police removed the keys from the ignition of the vehicle to prevent any further attempts of escape,” according to court documents.

“While speaking with Dawson, officers observed his speech was slurred and slow and his eyes were bloodshot. Police believed he was well affected by intoxicating liquor.”

Meroo Rd, Bomaderry

Police told Dawson he would be subject to a breath test.

“Dawson reached under his seat and retrieved an item,” the documents state.

“Asked what he was doing, Dawson replied; ‘I’m eating my sausage roll.’

“Police informed Dawson he was under arrest and was not permitted to eat.

“He replied: ‘F**k you, I’m eating it’.

“Police took hold of Dawson’s right wrist and warned him resisting may result in further offences. He then grabbed the sausage roll with his left hand and placed it in his mouth.”

At the Nowra Police Station, Dawson informed officers he had consumed about eight beers since 4pm and according to agreed facts behaved in a “cocky and remorseless manner”.

A breath test returned a positive reading of 0.167.

When told it was his failure to stop that had resulted in the chase, Dawson told officers: “Yeah, I have a job to keep”.

On Tuesday, lawyer John Kerry said Dawson thought he was being funny while clashing with police, but now understood his actions were “entirely inappropriate”.

“He has no reason for drinking as much as he did,” he said.

“He regrets resisting police in retrospect, and apologises for it.”

Mr Kerry told Magistrate Lisa Viney Dawson had twice been before the court for drink driving offences, with the last offence being in 2013.

Nowra Police Station. Picture: Google

Since being granted bail in April, Dawson had remained gainfully employed and was visited regularly by his mother to ensure his attendance, Mr Kerry added.

“This has an impact on his mother,” Mr Kerry said.

“It reinforces to Dawson the effect his offending has had.”

While Ms Viney accepted Dawson had made positive strides, in sentencing she said the offences were “too serious” for any result other than full time jail.

“All police pursuits put the community at risk,” she said.

“It is aggravated by the fact you had two other lives in the car.

“You’ve made the decision to drive despite being aware of the harm you might cause.”

Dawson was sentenced to 12 months in prison, with a non-parole period of six months.

He will be disqualified from driving for 12 months, and was fined $1000.