A Northland judge has described a methamphetamine user who picked up a German hitchhiker while leading police on a high-speed chase, as an "absolute menace" to society before sending the man to jail.
Les Ross Martin, 26, appeared for sentencing in the Whangarei District Court on Friday after earlier pleading guilty to a raft of charges.
They included possessing methamphetamine, possession of utensils for the manufacture of methamphetamine, possession of cannabis seed, reckless driving, failing to stop, male assaults female, breach of bail, and two breach of release conditions.
Judge Greg Davis said Martin drove at speeds of 200km/h in a residential area at one point during the police chase on October 25.
"You are a menace to our society and a lengthy sentence will be imposed because a clear message has to be sent out to the public that those who choose to drive at speeds you did and choose to avoid police will go to jail," the judge said.
The police pursuit started at the junction of Whananaki North Rd and Old Russell Rd and ended on State Highway 1 in Paihia after Martin crashed the car he was driving into a bank and fled into the bushes. Judge Davis said the pursuit covered 39km and lasted 18 minutes.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Barry Iggo said given Martin's driving, a higher starting point could be looked at before appropriate discounts were given.
Judge Davis said Martin wove in and out of his lane and drove on the opposite lane with police in pursuit. He stopped for a hitchhiker before reaching speeds of 200km/h at Waiomio.
The car caught fire after he crashed it into a bank and two fire trucks attended the scene.
A plastic bag containing methamphetamine was recovered after he was arrested. Martin also failed to stop in central Auckland and at Penrose in April. Cannabis seed and methamphetamine were recovered from him on both occasions.
On the charge of male assaults female, he punched his partner in the face three times at Pakuranga in Auckland in September.
In February, Martin was driving a car without a warrant of fitness at Maromaku when he fell asleep at a blind corner and drove into the path of an oncoming truck.
Judge Davis said Martin's excuse that he was high on drugs while offending didn't carry any weight.
He was sentenced to 18 months in jail on all charges.