A man will serve a jail sentence in the community after being convicted of a police pursuit through the streets of Goulburn that saw him reach speeds of up to 100km/h on a motorcycle.
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At one point he rode through a street barricade.
Rhys Cain Field, 22, of Goulburn pleaded guilty to police pursuit not stop, being a P1 driver exceeding the speed limit and riding an unregistered and uninsured vehicle when he appeared in Goulburn Local Court on June 14.
Police said on January 8 they were driving south on Cowper Street when they saw a trail bike enter the Shell Service Station. They noticed the bike was not displaying a registration plate. Field saw the police vehicle and left.
Police then observed the motorbike on the southern side of the Clinton and Cowper Street intersection. Field rode off in a westerly direction. Police estimated his speed to be between 80 and 100km/h in a 50km/h zone.
They began a pursuit and Field rode through a roundabout and continued west along Clinton St where the road was barricaded and closed to commuters, except for residents of that area.
Field rode through the roadworks, past the barricade and kept going west.
Near an intersection, Field did a u-turn and drove east along Clinton St towards police before mounting the kerb, losing control on the grass and stalling the bike.
He was attempting to re-start the bike when he was apprehended by police, taken to Goulburn Police Station and charged.
The motorcycle was confiscated by police.
In court, Field’s solicitor said a pre-sentence report had found him suitable for an Intensive Corrections Order, so that any jail time could be served in the community.
Magistrate Geraldine Beattie said the police pursuit was very serious.
“It warrants full-time jail,” Ms Beattie said.
“You minimise your behaviour and do not accept responsibility. No one forced you to ride that motorbike at high speed through the streets.
“You also minimised any possible danger to the community.
“All you had to do was stop and answer the questions of police. They only wanted to talk to you about the registration of the bike, but you sped off . You could have killed someone.
“The pursuit lasted 1km through residential streets. You only stopped when the bike stalled.”
She sentenced Field to 18-months’ imprisonment to be served by way of a Intensive Corrections Order (ICO).
She also disqualified him from driving for three years and fined him a total of $1750.
The conditions of the ICO are that Field must reside in Goulburn and be of good behaviour.
He also can’t leave the state without permission and is subject to random drug and alcohol tests, surveillance and home visits. He must also complete 32 hours of community service and a Traffic Offender’s Program.
Man fined for not voting
A man has been fined for not voting in last year’s federal election.
Richard Nyz, 67, of Colo Vale, pleaded guilty to elector failing to vote at election when he appeared in Goulburn Local Court on June 14.
A statement of facts tendered in court from the Australian Electoral Commission said Nyz had failed to vote in the July 2, 2016 federal election in the electorate of Hume.
When the Electoral Commission sought an explanation as to why he had not voted, Nyz wrote to them stating: “Conducting an election with candidates I know nothing about, have not heard of, have not seen and whoever the hell they are, do nothing for the community I live in and then making me vote for them in this democratic country – that is a crime.”
In court, Nyz represented himself, saying he was a night shift worker, that he ran a business in Mittagong, and that he had no idea an election was on at the time.
“I had no indication there was an election,” Nyz said.
“My business is intense. For previous elections there have been banners or placards, but there were none this time.
“I am here to object to the fine. In principle I object. They should have an option of ‘no vote’. You should not have to vote for someone you don’t know.”
Magistrate Geraldine Beattie said: “People who participate in our society vote.”
“People have fought to have the right to vote,” she said.
“If you are not exercising your democratic right then you will be fined.”
She fined him $75 and told him not to waste any more of the court’s time.