A Warrnambool motorist has pleaded guilty to 'mind blowing' driving offences and accepted a nine-month jail sentence. Leigh James, 31, appeared in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court via a video link for a sentence indication hearing on Tuesday morning. Magistrate Simon Guthrie described Mr James' repeat offending in a short period of time as "mind blowing" and said the accused simply didn't care he was banned from driving. He said it appeared that Mr James thought the laws relating to driving did not apply to him and the accused had a significant criminal record. On Friday, James accepted a sentence indication of nine months' jail to be followed by an 18-month community corrections order. He will be assessed by the Office of Corrections and will return to court on March 3 to finalise the details of that order. James' licence will also be disqualified for 12 months. The Warrnambool man has already spent 84 day in custody. He also served some time on remand for charges relating to the theft of firearms from a Tower Hill property in August last year. But those charges were dismissed in December and the time James spent in custody on remand will be considered as part of the nine-month jail sentence when he returns to court next month. Earlier this week, lawyer Sarah Condon provided details of certificates Mr James had done while in custody, a letter from Alcohol Anonymous and a letter from Mr James' partner Demi Nash. Ms Nash has an upcoming appointment at the Royal Women's Hospital that Mr James wants to attend. The court heard she has also been charged with serious criminal offending. Mr James pleaded guilty to four charges on one brief of evidence, but sought a sentence indication to a range of driving matters, in particularly dangerous driving while pursued by police. He was banned from driving when police observed him in charge of cars in October and November last year. Mr James was released from custody mid last year with a bail condition not to drive. On October 4 he went to Timboon where he bought a black Holden Calais, using his own bank card but signing a receipt in the name of a Warrnambool police officer. He then filled up with fuel in Timboon. Mr James is then alleged to have been seen driving by police and speeding, up to 78km/h in a 50 zone, a number of times in Warrnambool. He was arrested on November 2 in an unregistered car carrying false number plates and the car was impounded attracting fees of $1130. Ms Condon said when the other were charges dismissed in December last year, costs were awarded to her client. She said Mr James had spent much of the COVID pandemic in custody enduring harsh lockdown conditions. MORE READS: British national remanded in custody charged with theft until April 19 Victoria Police fraud and extortion squad in the process of withdrawing about a dozen conspiracy charges Man accused of divi van ramming Click here to join our free Courts and Crime Facebook group. Facebook has banned Australians sharing news on its platform. Here's how you can find south-west news. Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.
A Warrnambool motorist has pleaded guilty to 'mind blowing' driving offences and accepted a nine-month jail sentence.
Leigh James, 31, appeared in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court via a video link for a sentence indication hearing on Tuesday morning.
Magistrate Simon Guthrie described Mr James' repeat offending in a short period of time as "mind blowing" and said the accused simply didn't care he was banned from driving.
He said it appeared that Mr James thought the laws relating to driving did not apply to him and the accused had a significant criminal record.
On Friday, James accepted a sentence indication of nine months' jail to be followed by an 18-month community corrections order.
He will be assessed by the Office of Corrections and will return to court on March 3 to finalise the details of that order.
James' licence will also be disqualified for 12 months.
The Warrnambool man has already spent 84 day in custody.
He also served some time on remand for charges relating to the theft of firearms from a Tower Hill property in August last year.
But those charges were dismissed in December and the time James spent in custody on remand will be considered as part of the nine-month jail sentence when he returns to court next month.
Earlier this week, lawyer Sarah Condon provided details of certificates Mr James had done while in custody, a letter from Alcohol Anonymous and a letter from Mr James' partner Demi Nash.
Ms Nash has an upcoming appointment at the Royal Women's Hospital that Mr James wants to attend.
The court heard she has also been charged with serious criminal offending.
Mr James pleaded guilty to four charges on one brief of evidence, but sought a sentence indication to a range of driving matters, in particularly dangerous driving while pursued by police.
He was banned from driving when police observed him in charge of cars in October and November last year.
Mr James was released from custody mid last year with a bail condition not to drive.
On October 4 he went to Timboon where he bought a black Holden Calais, using his own bank card but signing a receipt in the name of a Warrnambool police officer.
He then filled up with fuel in Timboon.
Mr James is then alleged to have been seen driving by police and speeding, up to 78km/h in a 50 zone, a number of times in Warrnambool.
He was arrested on November 2 in an unregistered car carrying false number plates and the car was impounded attracting fees of $1130.
Ms Condon said when the other were charges dismissed in December last year, costs were awarded to her client.
She said Mr James had spent much of the COVID pandemic in custody enduring harsh lockdown conditions.
Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.
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