Jail for teen who led cops on scary chase across Toowoomba
He sped away from police through red traffic lights and crossing over to the wrong side of the road at 9am on a Wednesday in Toowoomba.
Police & Courts
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A TEENAGER who led police on a chase across Toowoomba in heavy traffic has been handed an 18-month jail term.
Zackary Tai Agoston had pulled up in front of the Hume St police station about 9.10am, Wednesday, August 5, and after “flipping the finger” to police on patrol, sped away.
Police driving past did a U-turn and followed as the 19-year-old crossed over onto the wrong side of the road and drove through a red light and through heavy traffic at the intersection, Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard.
About 15 minutes later, the teenager had pulled in front of another police patrol on James St who followed him into Anzac Ave where he was seen to speed through another red light at Stephen St and police withdrew from the pursuit on safety grounds, police prosecutor Rowan Brewster-Webb told the court.
About 11.30am police found the Nissan parked on a street and had it towed to a holding yard where the car was inspected and Agoston’s fingerprints found on a stolen number plate on the back seat and elsewhere, he said.
Agoston had been disqualified from driving at the time.
The teen appeared by video link from the prison to plead guilty to dangerous driving, failing to stop on those matters and to stealing two shirts worth $250 from Myer the day before.
His solicitor Patrick O’Donnell, of David Burns Lawyers, told the court his client had a weakness for drugs.
His client wanted to be a pilot in the air force and had made steps toward that, he said.
Noting he had a previous dangerous driving conviction and that he had spent three months in custody, Magistrate Graham Lee sentenced Agoston to 18 months in jail but ordered he be eligible to apply for release on parole immediately.