Michael William Carr sentenced to jail after police pursuit

Michael William Carr, 20, appeared via video link at Wagga Local Court on Wednesday, pleading guilty to a string of charges including escaping custody.

On May 20, police were patrolling Tolland when they spotted Carr and a passenger riding an unregistered trail bike.

After Carr failed to stop, officers followed him down Henschke Avenue and as he attempted to make a turn he lost control.

The rear wheel struck a gutter sending the passenger 2.5 metres into the air.

Carr did not stop, and further down the road dropped the bike after failing to regain control.

Officers drove onto the rear wheel, preventing him from using it to get away and chased him into a car park.

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After Carr got stuck in a fence and freed himself, police managed to catch up to him on Bourke Street.

He was taken to Wagga Base Hospital after injuring his hand. After treatment, he was being escorted to a police car when he escaped custody.

A swarm of officers and the dog unit descended on the hospital and managed to track him to a house in Docker Street, after which he was arrested and charged.

During submissions, his solicitor David Barron said his client had realised the error of his ways and knew "the cycle can't continue".

"He has decided in Wagga, and the people he has been associated with has gotten him into trouble repeatedly," he said.

Mr Barron added that Carr is a very young man who is supported by his family.

He conceded that due to the offences, there was no other option than time behind bars, but asked the magistrate to backdate the sentence to recognise time served.

Magistrate Christopher Halburd acknowledged that Carr pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity, but expressed concern at the impact Carr's escape had.

"All of these resources were diverted from doing other things they could have been doing in order to find the escapee," he said.

Mr Halburd handed down a combined sentence of 17 months with a non-parole period of nine months, leaving Carr eligible for release on February 19.

The 20-year-old is also disqualified from driving for two years and owes $1000 in fines.