A man with a "shocking" driving record has been "put on notice" by a magistrate, who warned he would be sent to prison if he was found to drive while disqualified again.
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Christopher Gerrard, 27, pleaded guilty to numerous driving offences at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.
Police prosecutor, Senior Constable Giles Brown, told the court the offences occurred on two different days.
On Sunday, April 12, 2020, police observed Gerrard travelling south on Sutton Street in a yellow Suzuki sedan about 2.45pm.
He appeared to be speeding before turning left "erratically" into Iona Drive.
Police moved to intercept Gerrard for the "reckless manoeuvre" but he continued to travel on Iona Drive at what police estimated to be a speed of between 60 and 70km/h on a road with a 50km/h default speed limit.
He then "wildly and erratically" turned right into the incorrect side of the intersection of Iona Drive and Lowan Street.
He accelerated down Lowal Street at an estimated speed of 80km/h before braking and "turning erratically" left into Kowiee Crescent.
The court heard he travelled about 80km/h through the 50km/h zone before driving the wrong way around the roundabout to enter Kara Court in Sebastopol.
Police operated their lights and sirens and Gerrard and a front seat passenger jumped from the car.
Gerrard then opened the rear door of the car and pulled a toddler from the back seat.
A police check of the vehicle revealed there was no child restraint where the two-and-a-half-year-old child had been seated, while further checks revealed Gerrard's licence had been cancelled and he had been disqualified from driving twice within a year.
An oral fluid test showed Gerrard had illicit drugs in his system and his car was impounded at a cost of over $1400.
Laboratory analysis of the sample taken later confirmed the presence of methylamphetamine.
In an interview, Gerrard told police he panicked and didn't stop because he knew he was on bail and would go straight back to jail.
In the second incident, police were patrolling the Sebastopol area on the afternoon of February 9, 2021, when they noticed a green BMW sedan travelling west on Hertford Street. A check revealed the registration was suspended.
Police intercepted the car and spoke to the driver, Gerrard, who stated he did not have a licence.
Defence lawyer, Adrian Paull, said Gerrard had been on the Court Integrated Services Program since June and had "done everything required of him" and had not offended on bail.
"He has demonstrated willingness to engage in rehabilitation through programs and it can give Your Honour confidence he has the capacity to adhere to court orders."
He told the court Gerrard had a family, stable accommodation and a job.
Magistrate Noreen Toohey said Gerrard had "a shocking record" and his dangerous driving put him at a real risk of going to prison.
She said he must have known there was a risk the unrestrained child could have been killed if his driving had resulted in a collision.
"There is a real risk he has been disqualified but ignores it and continues to drive. He is now on notice of what will happen if he drives while disqualified again.
"It will take him straight back to prison and undo all the good work he has done."
His licence was cancelled for 12 months.
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