A MAN who led police on a pursuit before running from his vehicle will be without his licence for 18 months.
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Police had signalled for Clinton David Roberts to pull over his vehicle on Eames Road in Barnawartha on February 6.
Rather than stop, Roberts accelerated heavily and sped into Stanley Street, fishtailed and nearly lost control before again hitting the accelerator.
Police activated their lights but quickly cancelled the pursuit.
They could see the vehicle 80 metres in front of them and saw it barely slow as it headed through an intersection.
Officers saw the car drive behind trees and stop and back up was called in.
Roberts appeared to be laying down next to the car but when police approached, he had gone.
He had slid down a steep embankment, into a creek.
The car was searched and several rounds of ammunition were found scattered inside.
Roberts was found later in the night at a home in Stanhope Street, drinking red wine.
He returned a positive test but denied he had been drink-driving.
He told police he had arrived at the home before skolling a bottle-and-a-half of wine.
Roberts refused to accompany officers back to the station, then agreed, but denied he had been driving despite owning the car.
The father of two, who works as a fitter and turner, had amassed a $14,000 credit card debt.
The Wodonga Magistrates’ Court recently heard he had some income but was only doing casual work.
Roberts was fined $1000 and lost his licence for 18 months, backdated to the day of the incident.
He will also have an alcohol interlock device installed once his licence is returned.