Jail for dangerous driving

A WEST Moonah man who drove dangerously in a stolen car in a bid to avoid police has been jailed for at least two years and 10 months and been disqualified from driving for six years.

Andrew James Brennan, 48, of West Moonah, previously pleaded guilty to two charges of dangerous driving, and to 22 other charges, including evading police, burglary and stealing, all committed between Christmas Eve and January 2.

Chief Justice Alan Blow sentenced Brennan in the Supreme Court in Hobart on Monday, and described it as “a particularly bad case of dangerous driving”.

“Mr Brennan drove whilst under the influence of ice, endangered the lives of passengers, other motorists and pedestrians, drove dangerously for distances totalling over 20km, drove dangerously for the purpose of evading police, drove in a stolen vehicle, was a disqualified driver, and stopped only when the vehicle could go no further,” Chief Justice Blow said.

The court heard Brennan, a disqualified driver, was involved in stealing three cars from the Health Department.

He evaded police and drove dangerously in doing so, the first time in the early hours of New Year’s Day. Police then saw Brennan driving one of the stolen cars in Goodwood about 5pm on January 2.

Chief Justice Blow said police pursued Brennan but abandoned the pursuit and saw him again about 8.50pm that evening in the northern suburbs.

He said Brennan drove over a set of road spikes on Berriedale Rd, which deflated the car’s two driver’s side tyres.

The court heard Brennan then drove towards the Brooker Highway, travelled onto the wrong side of the road, drove over another set of road spikes that deflated the car’s other two tyres, and continued driving with limited control of the vehicle, until he crashed into a street sign, drove another 50m along a grass verge, and brought the vehicle to a stop.

Chief Justice Blow said Brennan ran off but was caught by police and arrested.

The court heard Brennan told police he had injected half a gram of the drug ice not long before driving.

Chief Justice Blow said Brennan had “a great many” prior convictions but he had completed courses while in custody and wanted to start drug replacement therapy.

He sentenced Brennan to a total prison sentence of three years and 10 months, with a non-parole period of two years and 10 months.

He disqualified Brennan from driving for six years.