Billy Jass Klein narrowly avoids actual jail time over high speed pursuit through Darwin

A DISQUALIFIED driver who led police on a high speed chase said he panicked because he thought he would get in trouble if pulled over

Billy Jass Klein narrowly avoided jail over a high speed police pursuit through Darwin. (File picture)

A DISQUALIFIED driver who led police on a high-speed chase said he panicked because he thought he would get in trouble if pulled over.

Billy Jass Klein, of Livingstone, narrowly avoided actual jail time on Wedneday after pleading guilty to driving disqualified, unregistered, uninsured, with fake number plates, more than 45km/h over the speed limit, taking part in a pursuit and possessing a less than trafficable quantity of cannabis.

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When police asked why he did not have a licence, Klein said: “Because I’m a f**king idiot, it’s been suspended for drink driving.”

He said he fled because he “didn’t want to get in trouble” and “to get away from cops”.

Klein was recorded driving at 151km/h on Tiger Brennan Dr and ran a red light at the notorious intersection with Amy Johnson Dr.

Klein was picked up on foot in Yarrawonga.

The part-time labourer, self-represented, told the court: “I made a bad decision that day.

“I’m just so thankful that I did not hurt myself or anybody else.”

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He said he had since distanced himself from “certain people”, was drinking less and had quit drugs.

Prosecutor Katherine Kelly said a fully suspended sentence would not get the message out to the community that driving like Klein did was frowned upon.

“This wasn’t a brief pursuit, this was an extended chase,” Ms Kelly said.

Judge Tanya Fong Lim said Klein’s most serious charges were driving disqualified and in a pursuit.

“You were not entitled to drive at all,” Judge Fong said.

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She said the community expected judges to hand out jail sentences for offending such as Klein’s but said his limited history and relatively young age meant the six-month jail sentence would be suspended immediately.

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She also imposed a string of hefty fines and disqualified Klein for two years.