A 24-year-old Bridgetown man who evaded police at high speed has been given a three-year licence disqualification and fined $6200.
James Patrick McAlinden, 24, attended Bunbury Magistrates Court on Thursday, January 24.
He pleaded guilty to one count of driving and failing to comply with a direction to stop.
He also admitted to exceeding the speed limit by 45 kilometres or more, whilst driving recklessly on a road.
Both charges were handed down following an incident in Bridgetown in August 2018.
Sergeant Jo Morrissey told the court McAlinden was seen driving a Ford Ranger on Hackett Street, Bridgetown.
Whilst being pursued by police, he was clocked travelling at 146km/hr in a 60km/hr zone.
Officers later found the vehicle abandoned in the car park of Bridgetown District Hospital.
He was later located and apprehended by police.
McAlinden’s lawyer said his client had committed multiple driving offences.
One incident, from 2014, saw McAlinden crash into a stationary vehicle at low speed.
The defence described his client’s actions as “destructive”, adding they were carried out with a “disregard for authority”.
The lawyer noted McAlinden had accepted full responsibility for his actions.
McAlinden was worried that a criminal conviction would affect his employment opportunities in the future.
Labelling the offences as “serious”, magistrate Belinda Coleman warned McAlinden about the dangers of speeding and reckless driving.
“It was very lucky you didn’t kill yourself or others on the road,” she said.
“If you continue to drive this way, you will either kill yourself or end up in jail.”
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