‘A shade off the worst’

An Alexandra man who reached speeds of 120kmh in a 50kmh zone and then crashed through fences in front of rest-home cottages and into a children’s trampoline has received a "hybrid" sentence in the Alexandra District Court.

Cory Samuel Stevenson (26) was told by Judge Michael Crosbie his offending was "a shade off the worst that could possibly happen" and his driving was "almost as bad as it gets".

Stevenson was sentenced for sustained loss of traction, failing to stop for police, dangerous driving and making a false statement to police, all in Alexandra on October 1, 2017.

Stevenson had fitted large rear tyres to his vehicle and then done burnouts and donuts at several intersections in Alexandra.

Police saw him but Stevenson failed to stop, accelerating  into Tarbert St at speeds reaching more than 120kmh  in a 50kmh zone.

Police followed him for 15-20 seconds but then abandoned the pursuit.

Stevenson later lost control of his vehicle, crashing through three fences in front of cottages beside Ranui rest-home and into a children’s trampoline on a neighbouring property.

He and his passenger then fled the scene.

An hour later Stevenson phoned police and gave  statements  his vehicle had been stolen.

He later admitted it had not been stolen, and he had been driving it when it crashed.

Judge Crosbie said Stevenson was remorseful and had significant support from his employer.

He had "some issues" in life, including ADHD and having lived as a street kid in Australia.

He had no previous convictions in New Zealand, but did in Australia, where he "went a bit off the rails".

Stevenson was told by Judge Crosbie that "testosterone gets the better of some people", but  not to let the incident "be the start of your driving career".

"This experience should serve as a huge lesson for the future."

He sentenced Stevenson to a "hybrid" sentence of three months’ community detention with a 7pm to 7am curfew, and 12 months’ disqualification from driving.

 

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