Police chase on city edge ends in jail

An Albany father has been jailed for eight months after leading police on a high-speed pursuit on the outskirts of the Albany CBD last year.

Mason Ernest Brett Cole, 30, was jailed in Albany Magistrate’s Court last Thursday for reckless driving to escape police pursuit and failing to stop, among 11 charges stemming from the chase and two search warrants at his home.

The court was told the pursuit on August 25 started on Albany Highway at Wellington Street and continued through Mt Melville until he was arrested on Serpentine Road.

Prosecuting Sergeant Alan Dean said Cole increased speed on his motorbike as he looked back on Albany Highway and reached 120km/h on Serpentine Road, which led to police aborting the pursuit. Sgt Dean said the pursuit ended when Cole stalled his motorbike near Ashwell Street and officers arrested him.

Defence counsel Bruno Illari said his client had experienced problems with methamphetamine use since 2015 as a way of self-medicating his anxiety and depression, and panicked when he saw police.

Mr Illari said Cole accepted he had driven away from police with excessive speed.

The court was told two separate search warrants at Cole’s home in the months after the pursuit uncovered a small amount of methamphetamine, dexamphetamine and glass smoking pipes.

Police also seized a taser disguised as a torch, ammunition and a model train set later discovered as unlawfully obtained.

Magistrate Raelene Johnston said Cole’s deliberate decision to drive recklessly to escape police pursuit showed a disregard for the safety of others and a strong message needed to be sent to the community. She said it was only “good luck” the pursuit ended and Cole was arrested after his motorcycle stalled.

Cole was also fined a total of $900 for possessing methamphetamine, dexamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

He was fined $1700 for charges including possessing a controlled weapon, possessing unlawfully obtained property, driving with false plates, driving without a licence, and possessing ammunition when unlicensed.