Albany teen hoon gets another chance after second police chase and third reckless driving conviction of the year

A teenager who led police on two high-speed chases through Albany’s CBD in as many months has avoided an immediate prison term. Despite being convicted of her third count of reckless driving this year — and her second count of reckless driving to escape pursuit by police — the 18-year-old was placed on a pre-sentence order in Albany Children’s Court last Friday. She cannot be named because she was 17 at the time of the chases earlier this year. For an adult, the offence of reckless driving to escape pursuit by police carries a mandatory six-month jail term. The pre-sentence order, issued by Albany magistrate Raelene Johnston, means a 13-month prison sentence will hang over the woman’s head until a court hearing in January. She will be at risk of imprisonment if she defies Department of Justice directions until then. Ms Johnston also banned the woman from driving for life. In court last Friday, the repeat offender had yet another driving offence to answer for. She pleaded guilty to a driving without authority charge brought forward by prosecuting sergeant Alan Dean. Sgt Dean said police had received a tip-off that the 18-year-old had driven into the McDonald’s drive-through in Albany on May 22, which was later confirmed through CCTV footage. “You decided to put your liberty at stake for Maccas?” Magistrate Johnston said in court. “You had no business driving.” The Falcon was later impounded by police at the Emu Point Sports Club. The 18-year-old was handed a lifetime disqualification for the February 26 pursuit. After fleeing police in the Albany Waterfront Marina precinct, the then-juvenile reached speeds of up to 100km/h in 50km/h zones during the 3.5km chase. Throughout the chase, the teenager crossed onto the wrong side of the road. On January 7, officers were forced to abandon a separate chase after stingers failed to stop the Holden Commodore she was driving. In that chase, which lasted eight minutes, the teenager weaved her way through oncoming traffic and overtook cars in roadworks, reaching 130km/h in a 60km/h zone through central Albany. She was already driving on a disqualified licence at the time of the January 7 incident. During last Friday’s hearing, Ms Johnston told the 18-year-old she could have killed someone during the two police chases. “You may have been on some sort of death wish ... you put adults’ and children’s lives at risk,” she said. Sgt Dean and Department of Justice, representatives, however, were supportive of the woman remaining in the community. They said she had made progress since being placed on her intensive youth supervision order. The court was told she had completed community work requirements and recently undertaken a traineeship program in Perth. Ms Johnston told the court that while she believed risking public safety during the pursuits warranted time behind bars, she had to take into account the Young Offenders Act for sentencing. She said the Act’s focus on rehabilitation, along with submissions from the department and prosecution, led to the pre-sentence order. The woman will front the court next month for her first pre-sentence review.