Albury man gets out of jail, though still serving a custodial sentence

Magistrate Richard Funston said Toby Poole's actions that day were serious.

"It's very traumatic for all those other people, you know," he said, referring to the crash in North Street, North Albury.

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Poole previously pleaded guilty to charges of driving recklessly, furiously or at speed or manner dangerous and driving while licence suspended.

Police had briefly followed Poole, but turned off their car's lights and sirens because of his speed.

He has copped a six-month jail sentence, but will serve this in the community by way of an intensive corrections order.

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Defence lawyer Jason Hanke had asked Mr Funston to consider imposing such an order. Poole, 22, earlier pleaded guilty, through Mr Hanke, to unrelated charges of assault and drive while licence suspended.

Mr Hanke said that on the day the crash happened, on July 1, Poole was behind the wheel of the car - despite his licence being suspended until September 14 - because he wanted to visit his stepfather who lived at Benalla.

The assault on his partner - the couple did not live together - happened on May 10 when she was driving him to work, with their two children, aged three and one, in the back seat.

Poole began arguing with her, then yelled: "I'm right, you are wrong."

She pulled the car over on North Street, near the Young Street intersection, and they continued arguing, with Poole abusing her before striking her nose.

"The accused," police said, "continued to scream at the victim and punched her to her left shoulder."

She told Poole to get out but he refused, so she drove him to work then reported the assault to police.

"One thing he has going for him," Mr Hanke said, "is he does not have a drug or alcohol problem."

Poole was also disqualified from driving for 18 months and fined $1000.

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