Lachlan James Brill, 19, came before Griffith Local Court on January 19 and plead guilty to two counts of driving while disqualified, driving in a manner dangerously and not obeying the direction of police from October 5, 2021.

Brill also plead guilty to another charge of driving while disqualified, driving an unregistered vehicle, driving with a novice range of prescribed concentration of alcohol, and custody of a knife in a public place from November 27, 2021.

During sentencing the court heard at 12.15am on October 5 last year, police saw a Kia Rio turn wide from Brayne Road from Merrigal Street, and they attempted to stop the car.

The Kia drove past a marked police car and accelerated up to 130 kilometres per hour in an 80 kilometre per hour zone while trying to evade police. The driver swerved onto the other side of the road before turned onto Braithwaite Road and hiding from police.

Officers went to the address where the car was registered, where Brill was identified as the driver.

At 1.15am on the same night, a police patrol observed the car and stopped to arrest Brill who made full admissions.

Police checked the details of Brill's learner's licence and found it had been disqualified until July 21, 2022.

READ MORE

On November 27, 2021 at 11.10pm, a police patrol saw a Toyota Hilux being driven east on Bosanquet Road at Beelbangera.

When police tried to stop the vehicle, the driver turned onto Rossetto Road and accelerated before pulling to the side and stopping.

Brill exited the Hilux and approached police. Officers searched Brill's car finding a 35 centimetre knife underneath the driver's seat which Brill told police was for cutting hoses on the farm.

A roadside breath test returned a positive reading and Brill later returned a blood-alcohol reading of 0.015 at Griffith police station.

Brill's representative William Glowrey said he had expressed regret for the seriousness of the offences and was willing to undertake community service.

Mr Glowrey said on the night of November 27, Brill who wasn't a regular drinker had consumed alcohol as he was dealing with some family issues, while the Hilux had been recently purchased in the understanding the registration had been paid.

Mr Glowrey said Brill was worked at an earthmoving business and had ambitions to become further involved in the agricultural sector, often working six days a week to achieve his aim.

"He understands he will be off the road for a long time and accepts it's part of his punishment," Mr Glowrey said.

Mr Glowrey said Brill had spent two nights in jail when initially refused bail and had since described it as a "distressing experience".

"He told his mother when he collected him from Junee jail that he would never set foot in there again."

Magistrate Michael Love gave Brill a stern warning should he re-offend, there would be no second chances and he would be going to jail.

"I think it has been the case that you didn't understand the seriousness of the offending," Mr Love said.

"It doesn't take much to swerve to miss an animal or lose control, he could have wrapped himself around a telegraph pole or killed an innocent member of the community."

READ MORE

Mr Love said the two nights Brill spent in jail while he was bail refused should keep him from driving.

"You said that period which you were refused bail had a significant impact, and said to be a harrowing experience for him," Mr Love said.

"I've got some confidence if Mr Brill considers getting in the driver's seat of a motor vehicle, he will remember some flashbacks to those two nights in jail."

Brill was convicted and sentenced to an aggregate sentence of 14 months, to be served as an intensive correction order in the community plus 100 hours of community service.

He was fined $300 for not obeying police directions, $100 for driving an unregistered vehicle, fined $500 for a novice range blood-alcohol level and $1000 for having a knife in a public place.

Brill was disqualified from driving for six years and six months.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content: