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A Queanbeyan man who drove at police, then tried to hide in an ACT river after a pair of pursuits, has pleaded guilty to five charges. Michael Seymour, of Karabar, has been in custody since he emerged from the Molonglo River soaking wet in the early hours of October 16 last year. Police alleged at the time that they had first tried to stop Seymour, then 28, as he drove a silver Ford Falcon through Holt. Officers said they had conducted two separate pursuits, alleging Seymour had tried to ram a police motorcycle during one of them. “On both occasions, police determined it was unsafe to continue a pursuit,” ACT Policing said in a statement at the time. Seymour was ultimately arrested after he crashed into a guard rail on Parkes Way and ran into the Molonglo River, then voluntarily returned to dry land. When he appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday morning, Seymour pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated dangerous driving and single counts of driving at police, drug-driving as a repeat offender, and driving while disqualified. Prosecutor Juanita Zankin withdrew a further charge of driving at police and two counts of failing to stop for police. Ms Zankin said the prosecution believed a term of full-time imprisonment was appropriate for Seymour’s crimes. But a Legal Aid lawyer argued Seymour should be assessed for his suitability for a drug and alcohol treatment order, which would involve him being given a suspended jail sentence. Magistrate Glenn Theakston directed that Seymour be assessed for such an order, and committed him to the ACT Supreme Court’s drug and alcohol sentencing list. Seymour, who remains behind bars on remand, is due to appear in the superior court for the first time on Thursday. Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
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A Queanbeyan man who drove at police, then tried to hide in an ACT river after a pair of pursuits, has pleaded guilty to five charges.
Police alleged at the time that they had first tried to stop Seymour, then 28, as he drove a silver Ford Falcon through Holt.
Officers said they had conducted two separate pursuits, alleging Seymour had tried to ram a police motorcycle during one of them.
“On both occasions, police determined it was unsafe to continue a pursuit,” ACT Policing said in a statement at the time.
Seymour was ultimately arrested after he crashed into a guard rail on Parkes Way and ran into the Molonglo River, then voluntarily returned to dry land.
When he appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday morning, Seymour pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated dangerous driving and single counts of driving at police, drug-driving as a repeat offender, and driving while disqualified.
Prosecutor Juanita Zankin withdrew a further charge of driving at police and two counts of failing to stop for police.
Ms Zankin said the prosecution believed a term of full-time imprisonment was appropriate for Seymour’s crimes.
But a Legal Aid lawyer argued Seymour should be assessed for his suitability for a drug and alcohol treatment order, which would involve him being given a suspended jail sentence.
Magistrate Glenn Theakston directed that Seymour be assessed for such an order, and committed him to the ACT Supreme Court’s drug and alcohol sentencing list.
Seymour, who remains behind bars on remand, is due to appear in the superior court for the first time on Thursday.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
Michael Seymour has admitted driving at police. Picture: Karleen Minney
