A Sydney man who led police on a pursuit of more than 25 kilometres down the Princes Highway while breaching COVID-19 restrictions will be forced off the road for at least 12 months.
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Sean Pyle, 54, of Campsie, pleaded guilty to failing to comply with COVID-19 restrictions, exceed speed by more than 10km/h, possessing a prohibited drug, and initiating a police pursuit during an appearance at Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday, November 1.
According to police facts tendered to the court, police officers observed Pyle traveling 121 km/h in a blue Holden Commodore on the Princes Highway at Jerrawangala at 7.36pm on Friday, October 29.
Police officers attempted to pull Pyle over using lights and sirens, but he didn't stop despite the facts saying he had ample opportunity to do so.
The officers initiated a pursuit two minutes later at 7.38pm which continued south past Twelve Mile Road and Bendalong Road. Officers noted Pyle was swerving both left and right, but stayed within his lane.
The pursuit continued past Murrays Road and Fishermans Paradise during which time Pyle did not exceed the speed limit of 100km/h.
The facts state police attempted to set up road spikes at the southern end of Myrtle Gully Road, but Pyle avoided these by driving onto the incorrect side of the road with two cars approaching.
The pursuit continued until just north of Milton where a second set of road spikes successfully stopped Pyle's vehicle.
Pyle was arrested on the side of the road where a breath analysis returned a reading below the legal limit. Police also found a small, round, yellow tin containing cannabis, and a used ice pipe in his bum bag.
The facts state that when officers asked Pyle why he had left Sydney, he told them he'd travelled to Batemans Bay at least three times that week to help a friend cut down trees on his property.
In court, Pyle's defence lawyer said his client was pleading guilty at the earlier opportunity and hadn't been in trouble since 2018.
"This is an objectively serious matter - speeding is a dangerous offence, and we can't have people running away from police," the lawyer said.
"However, Mr Pyle suffers from a hearing problem and had his music on, and halfway through he thought he saw something in the road and swerved to avoid it."
Magistrate Doug Dick convicted Pyle on all charges.
"It's not a high-level pursuit, but it's still dangerous," he said.
"I also won't take the COVID breach lightly, you had no right to be in this area."
Pyle was fined $3700 and disqualified from driving for 12 months.
