An unlicensed driver who was high on methamphetamine when he drove at police, rammed a divisional van and travelled on the wrong side of the road at speed has been jailed for more than four years.
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Alexander Richardson, 21, of Colac, pleaded guilty in Warrnambool County Court last week to charges, including dangerous or negligent driving while pursued by police and intentionally exposing an emergency worker to risk by driving.
On Thursday he was jailed for four years and three months.
He has already served 243 days in custody on remand and will be eligible for parole after two years and three months.
Judge Fran Dalziel said Richardson was unlicensed and high on methamphetamine when he committed serious driving offences over a period of about seven hours on March 25.
She said he travelled over a roundabout at 77km/h in a 50km/h zone and drove on the wrong side of the road towards police - causing them to take evasive action.
She said that during a second police pursuit, dash cam footage revealed the officers were travelling between 54km/h and 119km/h in a 50km/h zone, with Richardson "still gaining distance".
On another occasion, police drove at up to 150km/h and still could not catch the offender, Judge Dalziel said.
She said the offending ended in Richardson ramming a police vehicle at Port Fairy, striking a bull bar and causing damage that was "not minor".
The judge said there were four passengers in the vehicle at the time of the police car ramming.
She said one female passenger was "terrified" and "thought she might be killed by your driving".
"She and the others were screaming at you to stop," the judge said.
Judge Dalziel said when Richardson was arrested, he was found in possession of 7.8 grams of methamphetamine.
She said that in the lead up to the offending, the man was using up to one gram of ice per day for over two-and-a half years.
The court heard Richardson had received three previous speeding fines, all of which were 25km/h or more over the speed limit.
"This offending was not an isolated incident of you driving too fast, in an unacceptable matter and affected by drugs," Judge Dalziel said.
The judge said she accepted Richardson was a youthful offender with an acquired brain injury which, paired with his heavy drug use, was a "main contributing factor" to his offending and decision-making.
"Your use of methamphetamine with some contribution of your acquired brain injury and consequent impulsivity, is an explanation for the offending but it does not diminish the dangerousness of your driving and the risk you created to the safety of police going about their duties," she said.
Richardson's driver's license was further disqualified for 24 months.
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