​​​Nathaniel ​​Midgley, ​27, of Simpson, ​pleaded ​not ​guilty in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court to a range of offences including dangerous driving​ but guilty to two counts of driving while suspended.

​​Magistrate Michael Coghlan found charges of failing to stop when directed by police and driving at a dangerous speed proven after a contested hearing.​

Midgley was found not guilty of not having proper control of a vehicle and a charge of failing to display P-plates was dismissed.

He became very upset and stormed from court when ​the penalties were imposed.​

The magistrate said ​Midgley had ignored an officer in a marked police car who activated his emergency lights and the accused had just driven away.

​Mr Coghlan said ​Midgley had lost his licence for speeding, ignored that suspension and just kept driving.

He said he was concerned Midgley would continue driving and wrote down the penalties for driving while disqualified on a piece of paper for Midgley - two years' imprisonment and/or a $38,000 fine.

​Midgley said he had four children, two who required specialist care​, and another child on the way.

He said he lived in the middle of no-where and had to drive: "I've gotta live.”

 Senior Constable Andrew Prisco told the contested hearing that at 8.15pm on November 17 Midgley was in a Holden sedan at the Cobden BP service station. 

Soon after he was​ driving north along the Cobden-Camperdown Road and turned into Jancourt Road. 

He had been suspended for one month after being caught speeding.

​The police officer sat behind Midgley​,​ ​who was constantly travelling at 150km/h​, then activated his emergency lights.

Midgley accelerated away down the narrow road.

Senior Constable Prrisco terminated the pursuit in line with the then police policy.

The next ​afternoon Midgley was heading east along Jancourt East Road when​ he lost control and his vehicle became stuck in a ditch.