Drink-driver Noah Seren Moon jailed after fleeing from police and crashing into a property in Albany

An Albany drink-driver’s high-speed attempt to escape police has ended in a crash and a six-month jail term. Noah Seren Moon, 36, was sentenced in Albany Magistrates Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to reckless driving to escape police pursuit, failing to stop and driving with a blood-alcohol content in excess of 0.08. Police prosecutor Sergeant Peter Yuswack told the court Moon was driving west on Frederick Street just after midnight on March 12 when he was spotted by police, who activated their lights to get him to stop. He continued along Frederick Street and on to Peels Place where he “accelerated heavily” and sped through the York Street roundabout, Sgt Yuswack said. Police followed him into Duke Street at a reduced speed, where they estimated he reached more than 100km/h in a 50km/h zone. Sgt Yuswack said Moon tried to turn right on to Parade Street but failed to make the turn, crashing into a brick wall and knocking over a metal fence. He tried to drive away from the scene before he was arrested. Moon recorded a blood-alcohol reading of 0.136. Defence lawyer Sabrina Maine said that in the past few years, her client had experienced “difficulty with mental health”. At the time of the offences, he had been dealing with a “demanding workload”. He admitted to having “some issues with alcohol”, Ms Maine said. Magistrate Dianne Scaddan said the offence of reckless driving to escape police pursuit attracted a mandatory term of six months imprisonment under WA law. She suggested Moon and others fell into a category “never intended to be captured by the legislation”. Ms Scaddan said Moon had no prior record and could have avoided prison by pulling over for police. “The real message that needs to come out of today … is if the police put on their lights and sirens, pull over,” she said. “Your manner of driving posed a significant risk to the public, road users and yourself. “Serve your time, put it behind you. It does not have to define who you are.” Moon was sentenced to six months and one day in prison and made eligible for parole. He was given a two-year licence disqualification, fined $1150 and ordered to pay court costs of $259.30.