Jail for high-speed chase

Driver fled police from Glenorchy to Kingston

A DRIVER who led police on a car chase through Hobart, almost causing a crash near the Hog’s Breath Steakhouse, has been told by a judge he was “old enough to know better”.

Benjamin Victor Thorp, 26, was disqualified from driving in March this year but was seen in his vehicle by a police officer who recognised him as they both approached a roundabout at Glenorchy.

In sentencing this week, Supreme Court judge Michael Brett said Thorp tried to evade interception, speeding along Gepp Parade, then weaving between lanes on the Brooker Highway.

Once he reached the ABC roundabout, Thorp ran a red light, pausing to check for oncoming traffic.

However, at the Hog’s Breath intersection, he drove through a red light without stopping, despite a vehicle travelling through the intersection on a green light which had to brake to avoid crashing.

Thorp continued along Davey St, weaving in and out of lanes and cutting off other vehicles.

“This continued until at least as far as Barrack St, where the police lost sight of your vehicle,” Justice Brett said.

A different police car caught up with him on the Southern Outlet when Thorp was driving “appropriately” and within the speed limit.

“However, when you realised that police were travelling beside you, you increased your speed and performed some dangerous manoeuvres in order to escape them,” Justice Brett said, adding Thorp cut off other vehicles to enter the Kingston bypass.

“You were required to brake heavily to avoid colliding with a vehicle travelling in front of you. You then sped away and police lost contact with you.”

Justice Brett said Thorp’s lawyer mentioned the former army employee had gone “off the rails” at the time and that his time in custody since was a “wake-up call”.

“I hope for your sake that this is the case,” he said.

“Although you were certainly old enough to know better when you committed this crime, I accept that your rehabilitation is an important sentencing consideration.”

Thorp was convicted of dangerous driving after he was found guilty by a jury.

He was jailed for 12 months, with a non-parole period of six months.

Thorp was also ordered to serve six months and an additional three weeks in jail from previously suspended sentences on other matters.