A man who led police on a 40-minute pursuit across Hobart’s eastern shore, crashing into three cars including a police vehicle, has been sentenced in the Supreme Court.
Justin Craig Cleaver, 31, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and a string of summary charges, including evading police in aggravated circumstances.
It was his fifth dangerous driving conviction.
The pursuit happened on November 7, 2024, when Cleaver was spotted driving a Mitsubishi Outlander with stolen number plates near his home.
He was on bail at the time and banned from driving under his bail conditions.
When police tried to pull him over, Cleaver took off, driving through red lights, speeding on the wrong side of roads and roundabouts and weaving through traffic across several suburbs.
The court heard he repeatedly forced other drivers to brake and swerve as a police helicopter tracked him from above.
During the chase, Cleaver hit a stationary Ford Focus, setting off its airbags, before crashing into a police car and then a Honda. He did not stop after any of the collisions.
Police deployed tyre-deflation devices, eventually leaving Cleaver driving on his rims.
A Special Operations Group intercept brought the chase to an end. Cleaver tried to run but was caught.
He later tested positive to methylamphetamine and amphetamine.
By the time he was sentenced, he had already spent 415 days in custody over the matter.
Supreme Court Justice Stephen Estcourt said the offending was serious.
“It cannot be said on this occasion that the dangerous driving was at the lower end of the scale. Quite the contrary,” he said, adding a “short period of imprisonment would not suffice”.
“Indeed, I would suggest, Mr Cleaver, that you are at risk of an application to make you a high risk offender, which might just ruin the rest of your life.”
Cleaver was sentenced to two years and six months’ jail, backdated 415 days, with the balance suspended for 18 months.
He was disqualified from driving for 15 months.
The court also ordered him to pay compensation to two drivers whose cars he damaged.
