A MAN who drove around a roundabout the wrong way before mounting the footpath and ploughing his car into the flagpole outside Bathurst Police Station has been jailed.
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Sean Hagan, 25, formerly of Bell Place, Kelso, appeared in person in custody via audio-visual link-up before magistrate Michael Allen on Monday, where he was sentenced.
Police facts tendered to the court outlined how Hagan drove 80 metres along the footpath in Rankin Street on July 14 before crashing his car into the station’s flagpole, causing it to snap and fall over.
Hagan had allegedly driven into oncoming traffic in Howick Street before going around the roundabout the wrong way and entering Rankin Street, where he drove on the right-hand side of the road before mounting the footpath.
After crashing his car into the flagpole, Hagan is alleged to have run into the police station, kicking an internal door and screaming: “I’m going crazy on ice.”
Police took him to the ground and, after handcuffing him, allegedly found a knife with a 20-centimetre blade down the front of his jumper.
A subsequent search of his vehicle allegedly found another five knives and a hockey stick.
Flashback: Western Advocate was live on the scene
On Monday, Hagan’s solicitor asked Mr Allen to consider a suspended sentence, but police prosecutor Sergeant Pearce opposed this, saying it was only luck no one was seriously injured in the incident.
He said Hagan was on parole and it was not a matter where the court should consider a suspended sentence.
In sentencing, Mr Allen noted Hagan’s plea of guilt at the first opportunity and considered submissions made in the pre-sentence report.
He also noted Hagan’s driving, including having the vehicle on the wrong side of the road and driving around the roundabout the wrong way.
Mr Allen said a suspended sentence was inappropriate because of the potential and actual danger to the community.
On the charge of driving recklessly/furiously in a manner dangerous, Hagan was convicted and jailed for 10 months, with a non-parole period of five months, dating from July 14.
He will be eligible for parole on December 13. He was also disqualified from driving for three years.
The negligent driving charge was withdrawn and carrying a cutting weapon and refuse breath test were both dealt with by way of a Section 10A conviction.
Hagan was also disqualified from driving for 12 months for refusing the breath test.