A Kanahooka man wanted by police on two outstanding warrants when he led highway patrol officers on a midnight pursuit last September has failed to have his 18-month prison sentence reduced on appeal.
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Police were attempting to pull Zachery Ambrose over for a breath test on the M1 at Albion Park Rail when he accelerated away from them, prompting officers to give chase.
Ambrose’s drove north towards Yallah before taking the Dapto exit and turning onto the Princes Highway at speed, ignoring the give way sign.
He then drove at 80km/hr through signposted 50km/hr streets, eventually turning onto Avondale Road, where he did a 180-degree spin to face pursuing police, who had to take evasive action to avoid a collision.
The pursuit continued, with Ambrose performing another 180-degree turn on Mount Brown Road.
However, this time, he drove straight at one of the police cars, ramming into it and causing his own vehicle to malfunction.
Officers eventually pulled Ambrose from the car. They said he appeared to be hallucinating and affected by drugs, repeatedly saying “Larry made me do it”.
Police discovered Ambrose was wanted on two outstanding warrants from incidents that occurred in Nowra in 2015, including running a car re-birthing ring from inside a South Nowra warehouse and another police pursuit.
Ambrose was subsequently charged with a host of offences, to which he either pleaded guilty or was convicted in his absence in court.
He was handed a two year jail sentence, with a non-parole period of 18 months, however appealed the decision to the NSW District Court, claiming the sentence was too severe.
In court on Friday, Ambrose’s lawyer said his client had had a problem with illicit drugs at the time of the offences, but he had remained clean while in custody and should be allowed a lengthier time on parole.
However, Judge Andrew Haesler rejected the appeal, saying Ambrose deserved to stay behind bars.
“I hope now you’re drug free you can appreciate how much danger you put the community in,” he said.
“The fact you were on a cocktail of drugs [in the second pursuit] makes it worse.”
Ambrose will be released in March 2018.