A MAN who led police on a high speed pursuit in Tamworth before he crashed the car and fled on foot has been jailed for almost four years.
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Jermaine Jay Jackson, 31, climbed out of the Holden Commodore after it flipped down a split-level medium strip coming to land on its roof, before running from the scene.
But his time on the run didn’t last long after police chased him down, arresting him in a nearby street minutes after the January 30 crash.
Magistrate Roger Prowse detailed the incident during a sentencing hearing in Tamworth Local Court where he said “the facts are horrifying.”
Jackson was behind the wheel of a car which came under notice by police about twice on the same morning when they attempted to pull it over about 10.15am in Anne St.
Highway patrol officers initiated a pursuit when Jackson accelerated away, reaching speeds of 100km/h in a 50 zone through a number of residential streets.
Jackson, who had four passengers in the car, lost control after turning into Crown St, with the vehicle careering over a one metre split-level road before sliding 10 metres along the ground, landing upside down.
The accused, along with a woman, climbed out of the car and ran from pursuing officers while one boy was trapped in the wreckage.
He was taken to hospital with minor hand injuries while two other passengers escaped unharmed.
Jackson has been behind bars since the crash and pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified, driving in a manner dangerous, using an unregistered vehicle, displaying dodgy number plates and police pursuit.
Solicitor Matt Kwan said Jackson had a long-standing problem with illegal drugs and needed rehabilitation.
He told the court Jackson had given up his use of heroin but was still relying on methylamphetamines to satisfy his addiction, but when questioned on the statement, Jackson interrupted telling the court it was “same shit, different smell.”
Magistrate Prowse said there was no scope for leniency with similar offences littered throughout Jackson’s record.
“Your criminal record is abysmal ... horrendous,” he told the court in sentencing.
“Your driving record is equally abysmal.”
He was jailed for three-years-and-nine-months with a non-parole period of two-and-a-half-years.
Jackson also pleaded guilty and was convicted of possessing a prohibited drug and a knife, while three other driving charges were dropped.