A man who crashed his car while trying to escape police suffered "some form of psychosis", his lawyer says.
Grant Clifton Taipiri was driving along SH1 near Putaruru in the Waikato when police clocked his speed at 117km/h and began following him with their lights flashing.
"The defendant slowed down in an attempt to stop before accelerating away from police," Judge David Cameron said in the Whanganui District Court on Tuesday.
"Police began to pursue with lights and sirens activated."Taipiri reached speeds in excess of 150km/h, crossing on to the wrong side of the road in his efforts to escape.
"He overtook into oncoming traffic, forcing other cars to take "evasive action".
The chase lasted for about 12km before Taipiri crashed into a paddock, "extensively" damaging his car.
A later police search of the vehicle revealed he had an SKS high-powered hunting rifle, for which he did not have a licence.
Judge Cameron said Taipiri had an "unenviable" history with a "variety" of convictions, including for dishonesty and violence.He was on parole at the time of the offending, so has been recalled to serve the rest of his sentence.
Defence lawyer Anna Brosnahan said there was "some form of psychosis" involved in Taipiri's latest offending.
Judge Cameron sentenced him to four months' imprisonment on top of his existing sentence, and 18 months' disqualification from driving, but the sentence was delayed until Taipiri's final recall order was made at the prison.
He cannot be sentenced until that order is made, Ms Brosnahan said.
- Wanganui Chronicle