Pinjarra man involved in Halls Head car crash jailed

A PINJARRA man involved in a police chase and car crash in Halls Head was a heavy methylamphetamine user.

Joel Hutchinson (27) appeared via video link from Casuarina Prison in Mandurah Magistrates Court on Friday.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to stop, endangering the life, health or safety of a person, three counts of having no authority to drive, possessing amphetamine, two counts of possessing MDMA, possessing methylamphetamine, possessing drug paraphernalia and two counts of reckless driving.

The police prosecutor said Hutchinson was driving with a cancelled licence in Pinjarra on January 27.

He said police activated their lights and sirens and Hutchinson drove off at speed down Forrest Street and Pinjarra Road.

During the chase, Hutchinson drove on the opposite side of the road and drove through red traffic lights. When stopped, police said he had a tablet and meth in his pocket.

The police prosecutor said police activated their lights and sirens again on February 1 when they saw Hutchinson in a vehicle with no registered owner in Falcon. The prosecutor said Hutchinson accelerated away, reaching speeds of 105km/h in a 50km/h zone.

Hutchinson drove at police in the Daydream Plaza carpark and they had to take evasive action.

The court heard Hutchinson drove 140km/h in a 70km/h zone on Old Coast Road, drove 100m on the wrong side of Scenic Drive and sideswiped another car.

The 42-year-old victim required medical treatment and her vehicle was significantly damaged. Hutchinson sustained cuts to his head in the crash and required medical treatment.

The defence lawyer said Hutchinson had been using illicit substances since he was 13 years old. Hutchinson had lost his job a month before and was using 1.35g of meth a day.

Magistrate Anne Longden sentenced him to one year and 10 months imprisonment, backdated to February 1.

He lost his driver’s licence for a further four years and was fined $800.