A Mount Pleasant man was seriously injured in a crash that happened when he drove after using the drug 'ice' at a party.
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A magistrate said the driver, Darryl Mcharg, was lucky he did not seriously injure or kill other people on the road.
A prosecution summary reveals Mcharg drove into a large tree on the side of the road in Stawell Street in Ballarat in July 2019.
A witness who was driving behind him saw his car veer off the side of the road into the tree and saw Mcharg climb out of the window and attempt to run away.
Checks showed he was unlicensed to drive at the time and tests returned a positive result for illicit drugs.
Mcharg, 43, pleaded guilty to the offences and a total of 13 charges relating to driving, family violence, damaging a police car and assaulting a police officer.
It is up to you whether you drive in the future and kill yourself or someone else.
- Magistrate Ron Saines
The court heard in January 2021 Mcharg punched a police officer in the face while he was trying to resist arrest after a reported family violence incident.
He then broke the rear window of the police van while kicking it from inside.
Police found Mcharg in March 2021 driving an unregistered car while unlicensed with a young boy in the passenger seat.
Mcharg also pleaded guilty to breaching a community corrections order.
Defence lawyer Jon Irwin said drug abuse was at the root of Mcharg's position.
He said he was also concerned about his mental health.
Magistrate Ron Saines said the ice-fuelled crash was Mcharg's seventh drink or drug driving offence and his licence would be cancelled for four years.
He said Mcharg's offending was serious because he continued to drive affected by alcohol or drugs and persistently drove while disqualified.
"In July 2019 it was you who ended up more injured than anyone else but there could have easily been other people involved in this," Mr Saines said.
"You need to understand every time you get behind the wheel of the car while disqualified, you will find yourself back in jail."
Mcharg was sentenced to four months' imprisonment and fined almost $2000.
He has already served 120 days of pre-sentence detention.
Mcharg will remain in custody on other alleged offences that will be heard in the County Court after the completion of his sentence.
"It is up to you whether you drive in the future and kill yourself or someone else," Mr Saines said.
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