A MAN who led police on a high-speed chase through Wendouree and North Ballarat streets will have to do 150 hours of unpaid community work, and almost had his car forfeited.
Warren Buchanan, 22, appeared in Ballarat Magistrates Court yesterday, where he pleaded guilty to driving in a manner dangerous and failing to stop on police request.
Magistrate Peter Couzens said the recent frequency of police pursuits was troubling.
“This is happening too often. Police must be obeyed in this situation.”
The court heard police had attempted to intercept Buchanan about 6.30pm on Wednesday, March 14 this year, when he was driving his Holden Commodore along Howitt Street.
Buchanan accelerated away, sparking a pursuit which lasted up to three kilometres.
Police prosecutor Acting Sergeant Ivan Blomeley said Buchanan reached speeds of up to 127km/h in the 60km/h zone and crossed onto the wrong side of the road several times, at one point overtaking another vehicle on a roundabout.
Buchanan was also disqualified from driving for 12 months.“I make no bones about this, but I was considering a custodial sentence,” Mr Couzens said.