Carlin William McCurley: Grafton motorbike rider sentenced in court for dangerous driving, police pursuit

A North Coast man with a history of dangerous driving evaded police at speeds of at least 175km/h – but was eventually captured by an officer on a pushbike.

Grafton Local Court. Picture: Adam Hourigan

A Clarence man with a history of dangerous driving evaded police when they could not catch up to his motorcycle as he sped along the Pacific Highway and Big River Way.

But Carlin William McCurley’s escape from officers while on parole was short-lived.

Police found him more than 100 kilometres away from their initial sighting at Grafton – and hopped on a resident’s bicycle to catch him as he tried to run off.

The 24-year-old faced Grafton Local Court on Monday and discovered he would once again be sent to prison.

Arrest: Generic picture.

McCurley was only recently released on parole for similar offending.

He pleaded guilty to getting into a police pursuit, driving recklessly, exceeding speed limits by more than 45 km/h, using an unregistered motorcycle, using an uninsured motorcycle and riding while unlicensed.

McCurley’s startling behaviour on the roads began just after 8:30am on July 15.

Police noticed him riding a motorcycle at speeds of 142km/h on a 100km/h stretch of road leading out of Grafton.

Officers drove after McCurley and caught up to him at the Clarence Town of Cowper, police state in court documents.

Instead of pulling over, McCurley “looked into his right hand side mirror” and sped away “at a speed of no more than 185km/h and no less than 175km/h”.

McCurley hit speeds of at least 175km/h during the police pursuit.

McCurley was soon zooming north along the Pacific Highway, crossing solid centre lines and overtaking multiple vehicles at high speeds.

Police state he may have reached up to 190km/h.

Officers called off the pursuit at Chatsworth Island due to safety concerns.

However, McCurley was spotted refuelling his motorbike at Wardell about 9.40am.

He spotted police and tried to dodge arrest “by running away from the motorcycle”.

“Police then commenced a foot pursuit … before detaining (McCurley) a short time later by using a bicycle obtained from a nearby backyard,” the documents state.

Defence lawyer David Hatch conceded in court that a jail-term was inevitable given McCurley’s history of offending and his offending on parole.

He also told the court McCurley struggled through a troubled childhood and began using cannabis and methamphetamines when he was just 13.

A police officer grabbed a bike from a backyard to chase down McCurley.

Mr Hatch said McCurley has “taken steps” to change his life, had a stable relationship with a new partner and his first consistent job working for his brother.

“He’s looked at his history, he’s looked at his life and he doesn’t want to continue on this path,” he said.

Magistrate Juliana Crofts said it was “a great pity” McCurley’s rehabilitation was tarnished by his most recent offending.

She told the court the offending was unplanned and perhaps McCurley expressed “a learned behaviour or instinctive response” when confronted by police.

But she said his lengthy criminal record did not assist him.

“Rehabilitation is often a one step forward, two steps backwards approach,” Ms Crofts said.

McCurley was sentenced to 18-months behind bars, with a non-parole period of nine months.

He was also fined $1400 and disqualified from driving for two years.

Originally published as Carlin William McCurley: Grafton motorbike rider sentenced in court for dangerous driving, police pursuit