IT’S A miracle no-one was killed when Grant Mathew Hunter embarked on what his solicitor described as a driving “spree”.
On bail for doing burnouts at Gregadoo and resisting police, 42-year-old Hunter was spotted driving a car contrary to his bail conditions at Uranquinty on April 15, sparking a pursuit along about 100 kilometres of public roads and through some five farming properties around Yerong Creek.
Hunter, who pleaded guilty to 19 offences in Wagga Local Court after his eventual arrest, ploughed through numerous unopened farm gates and fences causing at least $9800 damage.
Police facts tendered to the court said that at one stage at least four police four-wheel-drive vehicles were on one property as Hunter drove around for at least 30 minutes looking to escape.
Hunter’s vehicle collided with one of the police vehicles before he drove onto Cookardinia Road.
Police laid down road spikes twice as Hunter headed towards Henty, deflating one tyre.
“At this point, the accused left the driving position and moved across to occupy the front passenger seat," the facts said.
“The vehicle was now without a driver and began to veer into the oncoming lane as it progressively slowed.”
The move shocked magistrate Erin Kennedy, who sentenced Hunter on Monday.
“I don’t know how he could even do that,” Ms Kennedy said.
A woman driving in the opposite direction to Hunter got out of her car and fled into a paddock after realising a collision was imminent.
But in scenes reminiscent to a movie, a police officer drove his car alongside Hunter’s driver-less vehicle to prevent it from hitting the woman’s car.
The police car and Hunter’s vehicle collided, but Hunter simply moved back behind the wheel and took off along Cookardinia Road.
About two kilometres outside Henty, police laid down more road spikes.
“Prior to entering the spike location, the accused’s front nearside wheel was devoid of any tyre,” the facts said.
“The accused was swerving all over the roadway in an effort to keep control of the vehicle. “After passing over the road spikes the accused’s vehicles was no longer drivable and he came to a stop.”
Hunter was given two aggregate jail sentences, the first of which was three month’s non-parole that expired on July 14. The second jail sentence will keep Hunter in jail until February 13, 2018.
