Trent Briggs-Wood sentenced in Tamworth court after police chase

Trent Briggs-Wood was told his actions were an "outburst of stupidity" when he fronted Tamworth Local Court on a string of driving charges.

Magistrate Roger Prowse told the 19-year-old he was lucky he wasn't seriously injured when he was caught riding his motorbike while drunk, and without a helmet.

"I'll let you know, it hurts when you bang your head on the ground, at any speed, let alone coming off a motorbike," he said.

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The South Tamworth teenager was arrested in the early hours of May 6, 2023, when police noticed the motorcycle travelling on Cole Road with no lights, a bed sheet wrapped around the number plate, and clothing around the rider's head.

Police activated their sirens which led the 19-year-old to speed off.

Officers lost sight of the motorbike, but shortly after saw Briggs-Wood at the intersection of Edinburgh and Southview Streets, before he drove into a dead end and lost control of the bike on the grass.

The offender fled on foot and jumped three fences - running through private properties - before he was captured by police.

He was arrested and taken to Tamworth Police Station where he admitted to drinking a six pack of Jim Beam at about 9pm, and not eating any food.

The teenager was charged with low-range drink driving; not wearing a helmet; not stopping when directed to do so; obscuring a number plate; and entering inclosed land.

In court, Briggs-Wood told the court it was a "simple mistake", to which Mr Prowse said it wasn't.

"It was not a simple mistake, it was deliberate," he said.

The 19-year-old's Aboriginal Legal Service solicitor asked for leniency on sentence and told the court Briggs-Wood needed a licence for work.

His solicitor said he had also been attending drug and alcohol counselling.

"He's taking it seriously and trying to get things on a better track," the solicitor said.

Mr Prowse convicted the teenager and sentenced him to a 15-month good behaviour order for the low range drink driving but allowed him to keep his licence.

He was fined $750 for not stopping when directed to and obscuring the motorbike number plate; and, convicted without further punishment for not wearing a helmet and entering inclosed land.

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