A TAMWORTH man disqualified from driving until 2052 has been jailed after he was caught behind the wheel again.
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Shane Thomas Barnett has never held a driver’s licence but his record is littered with driving offences spanning several years.
And it was a chance sighting by local police in Tamworth in March that has landed Barnett behind bars.
Magistrate Michael Holmes said enough was enough, telling the court prison was the only option for the continual flouting of the law.
The court was told the 47-year-old was sighted driving a white Holden Commodore along Warral Rd on March 20 just before 6pm.
Police said Barnett turned into Macgregor St when they signalled their lights to stop him for a random breath test.
Despite police activating their sirens, Barnett continued driving before pulling into a driveway of a Maxwell St home.
Police approached Barnett and questioned him why he didn’t stop and he told officers he wanted to get home safer, noting a small child was asleep in the back of the car.
On-the-spot checks reveal- ed Barnett was disqualified from obtaining a licence until May 2052, after he was convicted in 2011 and ordered to refrain from driving.
Barnett was charged and pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle during a disqualification period – an offence for which he’s already been convicted. In sentencing, Magistrate Holmes jailed Barnett for 18 months with a non-parole period of 12 months. He will be eligible for parole in July, 2015. Barnett was also disqualified from driving for a further two years – meaning he won’t be able to apply for a licence until 2054.
Shane Thomas Barnett has never held a driver’s licence but his record is littered with driving offences spanning several years.
And it was a chance sighting by local police in Tamworth in March that has landed Barnett behind bars.
Magistrate Michael Holmes said enough was enough, telling the court prison was the only option for the continual flouting of the law.
The court was told the 47-year-old was sighted driving a white Holden Commodore along Warral Rd on March 20 just before 6pm.
Police said Barnett turned into Macgregor St when they signalled their lights to stop him for a random breath test.
Despite police activating their sirens, Barnett continued driving before pulling into a driveway of a Maxwell St home.
Police approached Barnett and questioned him why he didn’t stop and he told officers he wanted to get home safer, noting a small child was asleep in the back of the car.
On-the-spot checks reveal- ed Barnett was disqualified from obtaining a licence until May 2052, after he was convicted in 2011 and ordered to refrain from driving.
Barnett was charged and pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle during a disqualification period – an offence for which he’s already been convicted. In sentencing, Magistrate Holmes jailed Barnett for 18 months with a non-parole period of 12 months. He will be eligible for parole in July, 2015. Barnett was also disqualified from driving for a further two years – meaning he won’t be able to apply for a licence until 2054.
