Kurtis Anderson, 26, pleaded guilty in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court to charges including failing to stop on police direction, two counts of driving while disqualified, drug driving, driving an unregistered vehicle and driving without number plates.
Prosecutor Molly Wooderson said police tried to pull over Anderson, who was riding a Kawasaki motorbike in Burwood Ave, Shepparton at 10.50am on March 1 last year, but he rode off on them.
Police then activated their lights, and on Krone Ave, Anderson skidded towards the police car, with the car and the rear of the motorbike colliding.
A drug test of Anderson tested positive for methamphetamines, and the motorbike — the registration of which ran out in July 2021— had false number plates on it.
The court heard that in a separate incident at 2am on August 2 last year, police discovered a Holden Commodore stopped in Archer St, Shepparton.
The vehicle was running, and Anderson was asleep behind the wheel.
Ms Wooderson said police found a 28cm knife in the driver’s side door and an ice-pipe in the footwell.
They also found methamphetamines, ecstasy, five lollies of GHB, speed, cocaine and LSD, as well as three flares that were in the glove box.
Anderson was driving without a licence, as his learner’s permit had expired.
He was also on bail at the time, with his bail conditions including that he was not allowed to drive, and that he live in the Melbourne suburb of Sunshine.
Anderson pleaded guilty to six drug possession charges — for possessing methamphetamines, ecstasy, LSD, amphetamines, cocaine and ketamine — as well as possessing a controlled weapon, possessing a dangerous article in public, committing an indictable offence while on bail and contravening a bail condition.
Anderson’s defence counsel told the court his client had spent 92 days in custody on these matters before being released on Court Integrated Services Program bail.
The defence also said Anderson had relapsed into drug use two years ago after his uncle died, but that he had been attending drug counselling since November last year.
While Anderson was originally from the Shepparton area, since being bailed, he had been living in the Warrnambool area.
In sentencing Anderson, magistrate Peter Mithen asked him why he put himself in this situation given that he had previously spent time in jail.
He said Anderson’s drug issue was a concern to him.
“If you relapse, this cycle will continue,” he said.
“You were on bail not to drive and here you are evading police and riding a motorcycle.”
Mr Mithen sentenced Anderson to 92 days in prison — with the time already served in pre-sentence detention — and a 12-month community corrections order.
The order does not contain any community work, but Anderson will have to do drug treatment programs, as well as receive treatment for mental health.
“I want you to concentrate on getting yourself right to continue your life,” Mr Mithen said.
Anderson was also disqualified from driving for 12 months and was fined $750.
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