A learner driver caught riding a stolen postie bike while drunk will be forced to work off his debt to society.
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Bailey Bedford, 19, admitted trying to flee from police in a low-speed pursuit after they attempted to pull him and his passenger over at North Wollongong in the early hours of November 25.
He was eventually caught after refusing to give up the bike despite the chain busting mid-chase, rendering it unridable.
Bedford pleaded guilty to a host of charges in Wollongong Local Court this week including low-range drink-driving, a police pursuit and riding a stolen motorbike.
Defence lawyer Stewart Holt said his client "panicked" when police tried to pull him over.
"He wasn't aware of the seriousness of the offence he was committing - it's certainly been an eye opener for him," Mr Holt said.
Magistrate Susan McGowan ordered Bedford to perform 150 hours of unpaid community service work, fined him $700 and disqualified him from getting any licence for the next 12 months.
Court documents said Bedford and his passenger came to the attention of patrolling police when they were seen riding with no helmets. The officers signalled for the bike to stop but Bedford took off.
Police chased him through several streets before the bike stalled atop the Fairy Meadow Railway Station overpass.
Bedford pushed the bike down the station stairs and onto the platform where he was eventually arrested while trying to fix the chain.
He returned an alcohol reading of 0.066 at Wollongong Police Station.
Meanwhile, police discovered the bike had been stolen from a UOW carpark five weeks earlier. Bedford claimed he found the bike next to a tree.