A Darley man has pleaded guilty to more than 30 charges, mostly related to driving offences, including two police pursuits where he drove on the wrong side of the road at high speed.
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Cameron Blanchard, also known as Cameron Smithers, pleaded guilty to 31 charges, including failing to stop on police request, unlicensed driving and speeding.
The Ballarat Magistrates Court was told on Thursday the 27-year-old’s offending spanned from November 2016 to October 2017 when he was arrested and placed into custody.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Sam Young said on one occasion on January 21, 2017, police tried to stop Blanchard driving after he was detected speeding.
He said Blanchard sped off at a fast speed, approaching a bend at 120km/h on the wrong side of Lerderderg Gorge Road. Blanchard later told police he had full control of the car.
Senior Constable Sam Young said on October 23, police travelling in an unmarked vehicle tried to stop Blanchard driving at speeds of 120km/h through a roadwork zone.
He said the accused then drove on the wrong side of the Condons Lane Western Freeway ramp.
Police disengaged the pursuit but Blanchard was arrested later at Mount Pleasant.
In other offending on February 27, 2017, Blanchard was identified as one of a group of dirt bike riders riding dangerously along a Bacchus Marsh bike track.
Senior Constable Sam Young said the victim, who lived near the track, started to take photos of the motorbike riders when one rode towards him, causing him to jump out of the way.
He said the photos showed the rider who charged at the victim with a leg tattoo, which was the same as the accused’s tattoo.
Defence barrister Simon Tan said his client had an intellectual disability and requested a pre-sentence report, community corrections order and justice plan.
Magistrate Jonathan Klestadt agreed to adjourn the hearing, telling Blanchard he needed to change his life rather than wasting it in jail.
Blanchard is expected to return to court on April 3.