A Dubbo teenager who was racing in his Suzuki Swift before he sped off from police and initiated a pursuit says he 'panicked' when he saw the lights.
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Police were in an unmarked car when they approached Wheelers Lane and spotted Hamish Jason Packham speeding in a Suzuki Swift alongside a dark coloured 4WD, about 11pm on July 9.
According to police, it appeared the two cars driving side-by-side were racing each other. Police activated their lights, chasing after them.
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The dark coloured 4WD pulled over to the left and came to a stop, however 18-year-old Packham, in the Suzuki Swift took off and accelerated away from police.
The red p-plater continued to speed off and later turned onto Keswick Parkway trying to evade police. Packham made no attempt to stop and a pursuit was initiated.
Packham turned down Page Avenue, before zig-zagging his way through a number of other streets in Southlakes before he went through a roundabout on the wrong side of the road and came to a stop back on Page Avenue.
Police said Packham immediately got out of the car and sat down on the ground shaking saying "I saw the lights and panicked, I'm sorry".
Packham was arrested and told officers he was racing his friends, and panicked when he saw police with their flashing lights and tried to escape.
Due to COVID-19 Packham pleaded guilty to initiating a police pursuit and driving recklessly via email in Dubbo Local Court.
In court documents Packham said he was "silly" and had decided to race his friend down the road as he didn't see any other traffic at the time.
He said he "panicked and kept driving" when he saw police.
"I was just trying to get away as I knew I had done the wrong thing and was scared of what would happen as I had not been in this situation before," court documents said.
Packham said he understood he did the wrong thing and should have just stopped, but "very much regretted" his mistake in judgement.
However Magistrate Gary Wilson was concerned as Packham had only received his licence in March this year, four months prior to the offence.
Due to his early plea of guilt, no criminal record and his openness with police, Magistrate Wilson disqualified Packham from driving for 18 months, and fined him $1000.
"He's lucky that's all he gets," Magistrate Wilson said.
Zaarkacha Marlan
Court and crime reporter at the Daily Liberal. Formerly the sole journalist for the Nyngan Observer, Narromine News and Trangie Advocate.
Court and crime reporter at the Daily Liberal. Formerly the sole journalist for the Nyngan Observer, Narromine News and Trangie Advocate.
