Kelvin Mark Muckan has been in jail since the dramatic arrest on November 1, 2012, after the gang attacked police and innocent motorists during a wild chase near Guyra.

The 23-year-old pleaded guilty to using an offensive weapon in company to prevent detention and causing grievous bodily harm to person with intent to resist arrest.

District Court Chief Judge Reg Blanch condemned Muckan’s involvement in the spree which saw rocks, gravel and bottles thrown at police and other cars during a 168 kilometre rampage.

One of the rocks struck 30-year-old Guyra painter Patrick Garrett, piercing the windscreen and his skull, leaving him with lifelong injuries.

Mr Garrett almost died from the injuries as his father Steve, seated in the passenger set, tried to control their 4WD and bring it to a halt before emergency services rushed him to hospital.

A number of other cars were also hit by the projectiles, while others were forced to swerve to the side of the road as the gang’s car hurtled along the New England Highway and the Guyra-Ebor Rd before it crashed into a police car.

Judge Blanch sentenced Muckan to eight years for one offence dating back to his 2012 arrest and eight years for the other to commence in November this year, with four years non-parole.

With good behaviour behind bars Muckan could be eligible for parole in 2018.

Robert Joseph Jackson and Aaron Robert Dare, who were also in the car, have been jailed for similar periods.

One of the men arrested at the scene has denied involvement in the rock throwing spree and will stand trial later this year.