THE driving record of Clem Oliver John Edwards could be described as a disaster and he has been banned from the road until 2019.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
He had committed disqualified driving offences in 2009, 2010, 2011 and drink-driving matters in 2008, 2009 and 2010, as well as having a dangerous driving conviction in 2009.
But despite his past history and a long driving ban, Edwards committed an opportunistic theft and stole a painter’s station wagon and trailer from a residence in North Albury.
He was later involved in a police pursuit which police called off for safety reasons.
Edwards, 26, yesterday pleaded guilty in Albury Local Court to charges of car theft, failing to stop in a police pursuit and disqualified driving.
Magistrate Tony Murray adjourned sentencing until December 16 and ordered a pre-sentence report.
Edwards had been in custody since his arrest on July 15 and made no application for bail.
A self-employed painter was working in Mate Street about 11am on July 14.
He had his station wagon backed into the driveway of a house along with a trailer containing painting supplies.
A rear door of the car and two trailer doors had been left open and the keys were in the ignition.
The painter became aware someone had started his car, ran outside and saw it speed off.
Police attached to the city’s proactive team were patrolling in Douglas Road about 15 minutes later when they saw the wagon and trailer.
The emergency lights and sirens were activated, but Edwards ignored the police and sped away.
He was blocked at the Griffith Road roundabout by a four-wheel-drive ahead of him.
So he went through the roundabout the wrong way, the trailer hit a gutter and bounced in the air with painting supplies scattered.
At the time, council workers were gardening in the centre of the roundabout and police ceased the pursuit.
Later police found paint tins which had been ejected from the trailer in Wantigong Street and Boomerang Drive.
A phone call alerted police to the station wagon being seen in Alexandra Street in East Albury about 12.30pm.
Edwards had taken the trailer to Thurgoona where another man helped take it off.
Police arrested Edwards at a Mate Street unit the following day.