A MAN who made headlines earlier this year when he led police on a chase over bush tracks while driving a furniture van has been sent to jail after appearing in Lithgow Local Court.
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35-year-old Kane Drew of Winmalee, formerly of Lithgow, appeared on a raft of charges including police pursuit, driving while disqualified and drug possession.
The court was told that on the morning of May 3 Drew had been driving his furniture removalist van on the Bells Line of Road when he failed to stop at a Roads and Maritime weigh station at Bell.
Police were given the description of the vehicle and learned that the registration plates on the Mitsubishi van belonged to a Holden Commodore.
Police intercepted the van near Clarence but Drew turned off onto a network of tourist roads and fire trails in the Newnes State Forest area.
Police said some of the roads involved in the pursuit were normally accessible only to 4WD vehicles.
... the van stalled after running out of fuel then rolled backwards to collide with a detective's vehicle.
Road spikes were used unsuccessfully to slow the vehicle.
Near the intersection of Blackfellows Hands and the Wolgan Road the van stalled after running out of fuel then rolled backwards to collide with a detective's vehicle.
Drew was arrested after a 500-metre foot chase across nearby property.
Magistrate Michael Allen imposed varying jail sentences on each of the offences including police pursuit and driving while disqualified.
The most lengthy sentence was 16 months for police pursuit with a non-parole period of 12 months, the sentences to be served concurrently.
He was also disqualified from driving for three years.
The police vehicle involved in the collision with the driverless van was not seriously damaged and no one was injured.
Drew, who operated a furniture removalist business, was also listed in the court proceedings as having been detected driving while disqualified at Kelso and in the Blue Mountains.
