An unlicensed Oak Flats driver who led police on a high-speed chase on Anzac Day before dumping his car and running more than a kilometre along railway tracks at Port Kembla has been jailed for 12 months.
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Ross Bradshaw, 34, faced Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday where he pleaded guilty to four charges including police pursuit and going onto railway lines.
Documents tendered to the court said police had a vehicle pulled over to the side of Five Islands Road on Monday morning when they saw Bradshaw driving a white Mitsubishi sedan past them at speed.
The police's automated number plate recognition system alerted officers to the driver possibly being unlicensed. The officers took off after the sedan, at which time Bradshaw accelerated away from them.
He initially hit a speed of 100km/h in the signposted 60km/h zone, prompting police to initiate a pursuit on the wet roadway.
The court heard Bradshaw turned onto Old Port Road and crossed to the wrong side of the white lines, then drove onto an embankment on the western side of the road where he came to a sudden stop.
You put the community at risk as well as your passenger.
Bradshaw jumped out of the vehicle and ran off. Police chased him through a dirt track and onto the rail lines.
He ran along the tracks for 1.2km before he was cornered at Port Kembla North Station and arrested.
The court heard he began having breathing difficulties after his arrest. An ambulance was called and Bradshaw was taken to Wollongong Hospital for observation.
Police searched Bradshaw's vehicle and found a 30cm knife tucked between the driver's seat and the centre console.
He was transferred to Wollongong Police Station later that afternoon and charged.
He faced court on Tuesday where he pleaded guilty to the charges.
Magistrate Greg Elks criticised Bradshaw's behaviour, noting he had a lengthy criminal record.
"You put the community at risk as well as your passenger," he said.
He sentenced Bradshaw to 18 months' jail with a non-parole period of 12 months.
Read more Illawarra court and crime stories here.
