A Bunbury man convicted of a string of traffic offences following a police pursuit last week was sentenced to seven months’ imprisonment on Monday.
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Alan James Mellefont, 36, appeared in Bunbury Magistrates Court via video link from Bunbury Regional prison.
Foregoing legal representation, Mellefont pleaded guilty to reckless driving, failing to stop for police, driving under suspension and using an unlicensed vehicle on May 26 in Eaton.
The court was told Mellefont had been stopped for a random breath test at 10.10am where police siezed his plates and advised him not to drive.
Five hours later officers spotted Mellefont again at the wheel, and activated their lights and sirens in an attempt to stop him.
Mellefont accelerated away from police, reaching speeds up to 100km/h in a 60km/h zone, before stopping the vehicle and running away.
He was quickly caught by police and arrested.
Mellefont told the court he was a “victim of the system”, having been unable to pay fines, which led to his licence being suspended.
He further pleaded guilty to other traffic offences in the Bunbury area, including fuel theft and possession of stolen registration plates.
Magistrate Mark Millington fined him $5300 and sentenced him to seven months’ behind bars.
Mellefont was also ordered to pay court costs and compensation for the petrol thefts.
