A Lavington man who had only just bought a car off a friend escaped the clutches of pursuing police by speeding through roadworks, a court has heard.
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Police abandoned the chase because they knew road workers would be put at grave risk.
Shae Ashley Peter Watson had bought the car for $450, but the registration had not been transferred to his name.
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Hours after the pursuit, the owner received a text from Watson, who clearly was in a panic.
"Hey, I need you to call me ASAP," the text read.
The man telephoned Watson, who was apologetic for what he had done.
"I've just been in a chase in the Magna. I'm sorry, I know this is not what you want to hear," Watson said.
Defence lawyer Angus Lingham told Albury Local Court that Watson had since spent just over four months in jail.
Mr Lingham said it was accepted the offending was serious.
He said Watson, now 31, had also spent 59 days in custody in Victoria earlier this year, though his NSW jail time had had the greatest impact.
"Quite clearly he views his offending in a very different light after serving 124 days in custody," he said.
Mr Lingham said Watson was thankful no police officers, road workers or others were put at immediate risk from his driving.
He said the maximum speed Watson reached during the pursuit, on July 23, was 80km/h in the 40km/h roadworks speed zone along Wagga Road.
Watson pleaded guilty to police pursuit and being a driver never licenced and a separate possess a prohibited drug charge over 0.4 grams of methamphetamine.
Police saw Watson's car in Cheyenne Drive, Lavington just before 3pm.
They did a U-turn, then Watson accelerated to 80km/h in a 50km/h zone.
Watson was placed on an 18-month intensive corrections order, with 150 hours of unpaid community work.
He got a two-year driving ban and was fined $600 for not having a licence and $500 for the methamphetamine.
