A P-PLATE driver who led police on a high-speed pursuit near Gunning, reaching speeds of up to 220 km/h, has been sentenced him to 16 months in prison.

Police told the court the man was caught driving again within 12 hours of being granted police bail following the pursuit, on June 17.

Jonathan James Oberthur, 38, of Fisher St, Oak Flats, pleaded guilty to police pursuit not stop, driving dangerously, driving a motor vehicle while his driver’s licence was suspended and operating a motor vehicle while its number plate was confiscated, when he appeared by audio-visual link into Goulburn Local Court on Wednesday.

Police facts tendered in court said at 12.49am on June 17 the Highway Patrol were conducting speed enforcement duties on the Hume Highway near Gunning, when they observed a black Holden Commodore travelling south well above the posted speed limit of 110 km/h. Police Lidar clocked the vehicle travelling at 175 km/h.

Police entered the roadway and attempted to catch up to the vehicle, which they said was then travelling in excess of 220 km/h. A pursuit was initiated.

Police caught up with the vehicle near Oolong Rd, Gunning, where it took a u-turn and travelled in a northerly direction at speeds in excess of 170 km/h.

After a further chase, the car pulled over to the left and Oberthur got out and stood behind the vehicle. Police handcuffed him and placed him under arrest.

Oberthur produced a provisional driver’s licence. Police checks revealed it had been suspended from February 10 until August 9, 2016 for a speeding offence from July 16, 2015.

He was arrested and police granted him bail, with conditions including that he was not allowed to operate a motor vehicle. The registration plates were also seized from the car.

Then, at 11.20am on the same day (June 17), police were advised that the vehicle was no longer at the location where it had been stopped.

At 11.30am, Oberthur was again spotted driving the Commodore on the Hume Highway near Yarra. Police activated a siren and observed Oberthur’s vehicle pull over into the breakdown lane.

Police said Oberthur exited the car. When asked why he had removed the car he explained : “I just bought the car for $6000. I can’t afford a tow truck and I didn’t want to leave it on the side of the road.”

They arrested him again and placed him in custody.

In court on Wednesday, Oberthur’s solicitor said his client had a “brain explosion” in relation to the offences.

“He went back to get his car because he thought it was his only option,” the solicitor said.

“Being in jail has scared the hell out of him.”

Magistrate Carolyn Huntsman said they were “most serious offences.”

“While on bail you returned to move your car. You walked for four hours out to the highway to get your car as you were not prepared to leave it there,” she said.

“It was foolish and showed disregard for your conditional liberty on bail.”

She sentenced him to 16 months in prisonment with a non-parole period of 12 months. She also disqualified him from driving for three years.

Police have caught a woman who was allegedly driving on the Hume Freeway at 150 km/h with her two-year-old daughter in the back seat.

She is on a probationary licence and her two-year-old child was in the car at the time.

Police also pulled over a second car driven by the woman’s 23-year-old partner.

Both cars are allegedly unregistered and the male driver is alleged to have driven while his licence is suspended.

Police say one of the cars was missing wheel nuts on all four of its wheels.

The woman had her car impounded and was charged with exceeding the speed limit.

Her partner, meanwhile, was charged with exceeding the speed limit, driving while suspended and driving under the influence of an illicit substance.

The female driver is due to appear at the Wangaratta Magistrates Court in September.

The male driver’s court date is yet to be determined because police are awaiting toxicology results.

Police from The Hume Local Area Command (LAC) have thanked the community for their ongoing support during the recent ‘Dob in a Dealer’ campaign.

The Commonwealth-funded campaign is currently being conducted in States and Territories across Australia.

While members of the public are urged to report any prohibited-drug activity via Crime Stoppers; ‘Dob in a Dealer’ is targeting the manufacture, supply and use of ‘ice’ (crystal methylamphetamine) in the community.

‘Dob in a Dealer’ was promoted across The Hume Local Area Command between Monday 20 June 2016 and Sunday 3 July 2016.

Police and Crime Stoppers conducted intensive community-engagement activities at locations across the command, encouraging members of the public to report information about prohibited drugs.

During the two weeks of the campaign, Crime Stoppers received a number of Information Reports from the community relating to possible drug activity in the local area.

The Hume Local Area Commander, Acting Superintendent Andrew Koutsoufis, thanked the community for getting behind the ‘Dob in a Dealer’ campaign.

“We received a number of Information Reports via Crime Stoppers about suspected drug activity in our command, which will now be the subject of further police inquiries,” A/Supt Koutsoufis said.

“It was great to see a positive response from the public over the course of the campaign. We know that stemming the scourge of illicit drugs is a whole-of-community issue and we need to work together to tackle this problem effectively.

“Recently, The Hume LAC arrested almost 50 people, over a week-long period during Strike Force Trinculo, who police will allege were involved in the supply of ‘ice’ in the Southern Highlands,” A/Supt Koutsoufis said.

“Large amounts of cash, prohibited drugs and stolen property were also seized during the operation after a number of search warrants were executed across the region.

“I can assure the community that we will continue to target drug crime and if you are manufacturing or dealing drugs in the local area – you will be caught and dealt with accordingly,” A/Supt Koutsoufis said.

“I’d also like to remind the community to familiarise themselves with the signs of a drug house; things like blacked out windows, diverted electricity and vehicles coming and going at odd hours often indicate the property may be being used for illegal drug manufacturing,” A/Supt Koutsoufis said.

“Never forget the important role you can play in helping us track down and arrest those involved in manufacturing and distributing ‘ice’ across our neighbourhoods – your phone call could make an enormous difference.”

Crime Stoppers NSW CEO, Peter Price, said people who live and work within The Hume Local Area Command can still report information confidentially and anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestoppers.com.au.

“While the campaign has come to a close in The Hume LAC, the issue of illegal drugs has not – and we urge the community to continue reporting drug-dealing or drug-manufacturing activity to Crime Stoppers,” Mr Price said.

“We’re calling on members of the public to step up and stamp out ‘ice’ in their community – together we can affect real change.

“Calls made to Crime Stoppers are directed to a state-wide call centre and they’re completely confidential. You do not have to identify yourself and you will not be compelled to participate for a court case,” Mr Price said.

“Most importantly, every piece of information you provide can help solve crimes and reduce drug supply – so if you know something, say something.”

In NSW, the ‘Dob in a Dealer’ campaign is being held in 21 metropolitan and regional local area commands over a six-month period between March and September 2016.

The campaign runs in each command for two weeks, during which local officers and Crime Stoppers representatives host a number of activities to inform local residents of how they can take part and show their support.

A man has been charged after police located drugs, an air pistol, a replica revolver, and ammunition in a car, following a vehicle stop in Turvey Park, near Wagga Wagga, yesterday.

About 3pm (Tuesday 2 August 2016), officers from Wagga Wagga Local Area Command stopped a car carrying three men on Bourke Street, Turvey Park.

Following investigations, officers searched the car and men, and allegedly found an air pistol, a replica revolver, ammunition, and drugs believed to be ‘ice’, in a resealable bag with a picture of a redback spider.

The items were seized and will undergo forensic examinations.

One of the occupants of the car, a 31-year-old man, was arrested and taken to Wagga Wagga Police Station where he was charged with possess firearm (x2), possess prohibited drug, and breach firearm prohibition order.

He was refused bail and is due to appear at Wagga Wagga Local Court today (Wednesday 3 August 2016).