Breakneck pursuit costs driver

Jason Edmonds, 30, pleaded guilty in the Masterton District Court to dangerous driving, driving while forbidden, and failing to stop. FILE PHOTO

A man convicted on Monday of dangerous driving led police on a chase at speeds over 150km/h, overtaking on the right and the left and on double yellow lines.

Jason Edmonds, 30, pleaded guilty in the Masterton District Court to dangerous driving, driving while forbidden, and failing to stop.

On August 10, police saw Edmonds driving a green Cadillac south on State Highway 2 between Masterton and Carterton.

He was at the time forbidden to drive and had no valid licence, so police turned on their lights and sirens.

Judge Barbara Morris noted that Edmonds claimed he was "not aware that the police behind you were with lights and sirens, you [said you] were not aware that you were travelling at150km/h because the speedometer was broken".

The judge said Edmonds had overtaken cars on the highway, passing them on the left and the right, and veered across double yellow lines into the line of ongoing traffic.

Edmonds had then driven into Masterton, still veering into traffic, and turned into a side street, driving into a built-up area.

The judge said by this time Edmonds admitted he was "aware that the police were following".

She said police had called off the chase because it was considered too dangerous to continue.

"It was only good luck that no one was hurt or killed, when you drive like that."

Edmonds was disqualified from driving for seven months for dangerous driving, and three more months for failing to stop. He was fined $300 and sentenced to 200 hours community work.