Christopher William Chamberlain has more jail time added to three year term he’s already serving

The 29-year-old was on parole for armed robbery when he led police on a high-speed chase through Toowoomba. Here’s what happened:

A 29-year-old man who led police on a dangerous pursuit through streets of Toowoomba while on parole has had six months added to his jail time.

Christopher William Chamberlain was on parole arising from a three-year jail term imposed by the Toowoomba District Court in June 2022 for an armed robbery when he was seen driving a stolen Ford Ranger in Toowoomba on the afternoon of Wednesday, August 30, 2023.

Police claim Chamberlain had at times reached speeds of 130kmh and crossed double white lines as he sped through the city’s streets, Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard.

The driving came to a halt after police deployed spikes across the road on Athol Road near Westbrook and Chamberlain had then done a runner but was soon caught, police prosecutor Julia Wheaton told the court.

Christopher William Chamberlain was sentenced to more jail time after appearing in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on January 15, 2024.

The 29-year-old, who was affected by meth at the time, told police there was a weapon in the car and police had then retrieved a double-barrelled shotgun from the vehicle’s seat, Sergeant Wheaton said.

Chamberlain was taken into custody and appeared via video link from the prison on Monday, January 15, to plead guilty to 20 offences including burglary, two counts of evading police, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle while adversely affected by an intoxicating substance, obstructing police and possessing a weapon arising from that incident as well as to unrelated matters of receiving tainted property, fraud, possessing dangerous drugs and utensils.

His solicitor Nathan Bouchier, of Bouchier Khan Lawyers, told the court his client’s offending stemmed from long-term drug problems dating back to his teen years when he started using cannabis before indulging in meth from age 16.

The father of two was apologetic for his offending and for those affected by his offending, he said.

His client wanted to become a better person and father and upon his release from prison he did have prospects of work, Mr Bouchier said.

Magistrate Clare Kelly told Chamberlain that any sentence on the dangerous operation offence would have to be served cumulatively to his current sentence for which he had a full-time release date of November 27, 2024.

Ms Kelly said she would reduce the head sentence so as not to impose a term that was “crushing” and sentenced Chamberlain to six months in jail, to be served from the completion of his current term, and ordered he be eligible to apply for parole as of March 30, 2024, though he would now have a full-time release date in May 2025.

Chamberlain was disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver’s licence for two years and six months.