FREE AFTER DRUG-ADDLED RAMPAGE
A “DRUG-ADDLED” man who jumped into the Nerang River to escape police following a chase and attempted carjacking was released from prison on Thursday.
It took police half an hour to fetch Keiran Patrick John Gray from the river after his brazen escape attempt.
The 31-year-old pleaded guilty in the Southport District Court on Thursday to more than 40 charges including dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, driving unlicensed, stealing and unlawful entry of a motor vehicle.
The court was told police began chasing Gray on May 6, 2019 after he was spotted driving a stolen car.
The pursuit went through three suburbs and an attempt to stop the car with stingers on Ashmore Rd was unsuccessful.
Gray continued driving on deflated tyres for “a couple of kilometres” before stopping on the Ross St Bridge, blocking traffic and using a knife to threaten another man to get his car. When that was unsuccessful Gray jumped off the bridge and into the Nerang River to get away from police.
The court was told Gray was “drug-addled” at the time of the incident.
Judge David Kent sentenced Gray to two-anda-half years in prison to be suspended on Thursday.
Gray has spent 184 days in prison already.
“You need to understand what disastrously serious criminal conduct this was,” Judge Kent said.
“We can’t have people running people off the road and threatening them with knives to steal their car to get away from police.
“There is just no words to describe how serious this type of conduct is.”
Gray was also sentenced to four years’ probation and disqualified from driving for three years.
The court was told Gray had a significant criminal history and was “part of the drug taking and criminal community for a number of years”.