Drugs, police chase convictions for Albany prisoner Harley Michael Burridge

An Albany prisoner who was once sued for crashing a car into a horse and leaving the rising football talent in his passenger seat permanently disabled has landed himself an additional jail sentence for a string of drug and driving offences. Harley Michael Burridge made headlines a decade ago after the vehicle incident on Albany Highway in 2011 that left then-Claremont Tigers footballer Warrick Proudlove in a coma for six weeks and eventually diagnosed a quadriplegic. Burridge, 27, was last week sentenced in Bunbury Magistrate’s Court for possessing methylamphetamine and dexamphetamine, driving recklessly to escape police pursuit, breaching bail, driving under the influence of drugs, possessing a weapon, and driving with no authority. Two of the charges — possessing a weapon, and possessing dexamphetamine — related to offences committed while the man was in Bunbury. Burridge appeared in court while serving more than two years behind bars after he was caught possessing 27.5g of meth with intent to sell or supply in Eaton in 2019. His girlfriend Hannah Lee Sayer avoided jail in May when she faced the District Court after she was found hiding the meth in her leggings to “protect” Burridge when the pair were pulled over by police in Eaton. A psychological report from his District Court sentencing found the crash left Burridge with post-traumatic stress syndrome, high anxiety and depression. Burridge’s meth use spiked following the incident, with the report finding his ongoing drug use could be “closely linked” to his offending. Magistrate Tanya Watt said Burridge’s references spoke of him highly and she understood he had committed to being a voluntary inpatient to address his meth issues. “The most serious offence is the reckless driving,” she said, warning Burridge was very fortunate no one was hurt after he drove at high speed into oncoming traffic. Ms Watt said Burridge had driven off from a police station, turning on to the wrong side of the road into oncoming traffic at 140km/h in a 70km/h zone when police attempted to stop him. Burridge was on Friday sentenced to seven months imprisonment to be served concurrently, fined $1300, and was disqualified from driving for six months. He appeared last week via video link from Albany Regional Prison.