James Nichols, 32, pleads to dishonesty, driving and drug offences

A Bell Park man who lead police on a high-speed chase in a stolen car and refused a drug test has been convicted.

Police at the scene in Rippleside. Picture: Mark Wilson

A Bell Park man who led police on a high-speed chase in a stolen car and refused a drug test has been convicted.

James Nichols, 32 on Thursday pleaded guilty in Geelong Magistrates Court to 19 of the 41 charges he faced, covering driving, dishonesty and drug offences.

Magistrate John Bentley convicted and sentenced Nichols to three months in jail, followed by a 12-month community corrections order.

The 32-year-old, who has already spent 106 days in custody, was released on time served on Thursday.

On June 14 this year, a police chopper spotted a gold Toyota Prado speeding through Geelong.

The court heard the car was being driven by Nichols, with a co-accused in the passenger seat.
During the chase, the court was told Nichols drove “at a dangerous speed in a dangerous manner”.

At one point, the two men got and out swapped vehicles.

Sortly after, the two men were arrested in Rippleside and bottle of butanediol was found in the car.

The court heard Nichols refused to undergo an evidentary breath test, which carries a mandatory two-year loss of licence.

Inside the car, police found tools stolen during a number of robberies across Highton and Wandana Heights.

Nichols was not charged with these robberies.

The court also heard that on May 19 this year, about 1.40am, police were conducting patrols in and around Grovedale when they stopped and searched Nichols and his car, a red Toyota sedan, as he was the subject of a firearms prohibition order.

In the car’s boot, police found three white pill containers containing Xanax, along with a brown bottle in a clear plastic bag, containing butanediol.

A container of Xanax was also found in Nichols pocket, along with a box cutter.

Less than a month later, on June 5 this year, Nichols crashed a car into the Norlane ambulance station on Melbourne Rd.

After being cleared of injuries, Nichols was searched by police who found a small deal bag in his baseball hat, containing ice, prompting his arrest.

Police searched the car, and found a knife in the centre console, and another small, yellow “deal bag” and a black zip up wallet, witth two containers of GHB inside.

A small set of digital scales, a sryinge container remnants of a “clear liquid” and a glass pipe used for smoking ice were also found during the search.

Magistrate John Bentley told Nichols he was at risk of becoming “institutionalised”.

“You’ve spent an awfully long time in custody for someone who’s only 32,” Mr Bentley said.

Mr Bentley said he was giving Nichols an “opportunity” but warned he must abide by the

“Some people think, ‘I’ve done the time, I don’t need to do the corrections order’, but that’s not the case here.

“I’m giving you an opportunity to get a lesser sentence, or less time incarcertated, in order to assist you.

“The idea is you don’t come back before the courts.”

Nichols was released, having spent 106 days in custody.

Originally published as James Nichols, 32, pleads to dishonesty, driving and drug offences