An eleventh hour attempt to reverse a plea for supplying 'ice' has stopped a man from being sentenced after he was arrested following a police pursuit.
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Clinton David Williams has admitted to being an unlicensed driver who led police on a chase through the streets of Berkeley before escaping on foot earlier this year.
Police said they recognised Williams and matched him to a driver's licence they found in the abandoned vehicle by his "distinctive face and neck tattoos", which include a huge swastika tattoo covering the front of his neck.
A set of police facts tendered to Wollongong Local Court said officers were called to Carters Lane in Towradgi on the afternoon of April 27 with reports Williams had a firearm at the location.
Police officers saw a red Toyota Camry leave a car park at high speed and it was later seen in Berkeley but Williams accelerated away when police tried to follow the car.
The officers gave chase, following the car from Nolan Street onto Northcliffe Drive, then Holborn Street and Southampton Street.
The vehicle was being driven erratically, with Williams seen to swerve on the roadway, speed and run through intersections without stopping before he abruptly stopped, jumped out of the car and fled on foot.
Officers chased him, at which time they claim they were able to identify the person as Williams, but were unable to catch up to him and he evaded capture.
During a subsequent search of the Camry, police located Williams' wallet containing his ID, $465 cash, allegedly $14,000 worth of 'ice' and a flick knife.
Williams was found and arrested about a week later hiding under a pile of clothes behind a lounge inside an Illawong Gardens apartment.
He was charged with multiple offences including drug supply, dangerous driving, resisting arrest and dealing with the proceeds of crime.
Williams was scheduled to be sentenced in Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday for all charges, however, his lawyer Rosie Lambert told the court her client wanted to withdraw a guilty plea for the drug supply charge.
Guilty pleas were entered by another defence lawyer during a previous court appearance, however, Williams asked Ms Lambert to make a formal application to reverse one of the pleas.
Magistrate Mark Douglass is expected to make a ruling on the application on November 27.
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