A Sebastopol man who evaded police at high speed in conditions so dangerous the pursuit was called off has been sentenced.
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Matthew Hind, 30, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving while being pursued by police and car theft when he appeared in the Ballarat Magistrates Court on Monday morning.
Police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Sam Young said on February 6, Hind in a silver sedan was seen at the United petrol station in Wendouree. After leaving the service station, police engaged their emergency lights on Learmonth Road, with Hind driving away at a rapid rate. After following the man in heavy rain, police stopped the chase.
The car in question was later found outside Hind's Wendouree home, with the car's number plates abandoned in the garden bed.
Hind gave a no comment interview to police, but consented to have his injured leg photographed, as CCTV footage showed the wanted male with a bandage on his leg.
A car stolen on the night of March 14 this year from Wendouree Station was found two weeks later in Delacombe, with damage to its front bumper and bearing stolen plates. Hind's fingerprints were found on the car.
The man's defence lawyer, Adam Maloney, said Hind had not engaged in serious offending for 31 months since evading police and had been able to "get his life back on track".
Mr Maloney said Hind's son has neurofibromatosis, and will be operated on in the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne in the next two months.
Magistrate John Doherty told the man that if he offends again, "you and I are destined to meet at the parole board", because he would receive a jail term.
"You've played Ryder's card today, for first and last time," the Magistrate said, referencing Hind's unwell son. "The challenge for you over the next 12 months is not to drive, and if you do, you'll be jailed."
Hind was sentenced to 48 days in jail, time already served in custody, and has his license cancelled for 12 months. He was also fined $2500 and ordered to pay $650 restitution.
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