A man who rammed a police car and injured a sergeant before sparking a manhunt across Ballarat has been jailed for 10 months.
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But Adam Sandlant appealed the sentence on Friday, which included a 24-month Community Corrections Order and driver’s licence disqualification for 24 months.
The 40-year-old was released on appeal bail at the Ballarat Magistrates Court with conditions he report to the Geelong Police Station, abide by a curfew, not drive and not use drugs.
Magistrate Gregory Robinson told Sandlant now he was drug-free, he had good prospects of rehabilitation if he could return to the life he led before 2016.
“This offending is over a short time in an otherwise life well led. He comes from a good family which also strengthens his prospects for rehabilitation,” Mr Robinson said.
“General deterrence is important in this case. The use of ice in a community is widespread and it’s the cause of a great deal of criminal offending, a great cause of ruination of people’s lives and ruination of people’s families.
“There needs to be a deterrent effect with sentencing to deter people from using the drug.”
Mr Robinson said Sandlant’s ice use could not be put forward as a justification of his offending because it was an aggravating factor.
Sandlant had earlier pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including dangerous driving while being pursued by police, failing to stop a vehicle on police direction and criminal damage by fire following the rampage on June 8, 2017.
He was not charged over ramming the police car.
Sandlant was driving a stolen Holden Rodeo on Howitt Street when he suddenly rammed into an oncoming police car before fleeing the scene.
Paramedics transported the driver, a Sergeant, to Ballarat Base Hospital while a police helicopter and the dog squad were called to track down Sandlant, who was fleeing police at speeds of 120km/h in a 60km/h zone.
He drove into bushland in Canadian and became bogged before torching the Rodeo and running under tree cover. Po9lice arrested him later at a Wendouree house.
Mr Robinson said if Sandlant did not plead guilty, he would have received in excess of four years behind bars.
His appeal hearing will be held in the County Court at a date to be fixed.
