Canty leg of 720km chase ends in court

A 20-year-old man could have killed himself or others when he led police officers on three chases during a 720-kilometre joy-ride through the South Island, a judge says.

Michael George Massie, a sawmill worker, from Invercargill, was given 80 hours of community work in the Christchurch District Court yesterday for the Canterbury leg of his journey.

Massie admitted dangerous driving near Woodend on October 14, in what Judge David Saunders said was ‘‘a recipe for disaster’’.

He had been reported by a member of the public speeding and crossing the centre line.

Massie, who started his journey in Nelson, was stopped near Waikouaiti, north of Dunedin.

He was caught walking across a field after turning off the highway and leaving the car as police officers deployed road spikes.

Police had tried to catch him three times during the big drive.

Judge Saunders told Massie there had been four road deaths from crashes where drivers reportedly crossed the centre line in Canterbury during the past week.

‘‘You could well have killed yourself or some other innocent road users,’’ the judge said.

‘‘You need to take a good, hard look at yourself.’’

Judge Saunders decided not to add to the disqualification that Massie had already received for another part of the same trip.

Defence counsel Phillip Allan said Massie was already disqualified from driving until 2021 after a sentencing in a the Invercargill District Court in December.

Judge Saunders said Massie would go to jail if he continued to offend.

‘‘He now has a history of vehicle offending.’’