A Canberra man who rode an electric scooter at nearly 100kph before trying to evade police via a nearby bike path has been jailed for a month.
On December 23 last year, police spotted 38-year-old James Cole riding the e-scooter at high speed down the Majura Parkway, a main road in Canberra's east.
Police body-cam footage, which was played to the ACT Magistrates Court, shows Cole repeatedly refusing to stop for two officers on motorbikes.
Police then chased Cole as he rode onto a bike path off the highway, forcing several cyclists to dismount to avoid a collision.
Cole later lost control of the e-scooter and was finally stopped by the officers.
In the footage, he can be heard expressing concern to police about being late for work.
"My job's on the line, man," Cole is heard saying.
"Please, it's Christmas and that."
He later tested positive for methamphetamine in a roadside drug test.
Footage showed 'determined effort' to escape
Defence lawyer Brandon Bodel told the court his client bought the scooter because he had lost his driver's licence as a result of drug driving.
Mr Bodel said his client was experiencing serious mental health problems at the time of the incident, but was genuinely concerned about being late for his job as a mechanic.
"My client's need for speed, for lack of a better word, was a genuine attempt to get to work," the lawyer said.
Mr Bodel asked Special Magistrate Sean Richter not to give Cole any jail time so he could access the rehabilitation services he needed.
But prosecutor Corey O'Connor said the footage showed a "determined effort" by Cole to get away from police.
Mr O'Connor said Cole also put six cyclists in danger.
"He poses a significant risk to others and himself," the prosecutor said.
Cole pleaded guilty to seven charges.
Magistrate Richter told Cole he had little faith that he would rehabilitate himself.
"You are way beyond the age which I expect men to appear before me driving scooters and doing stupid things," the magistrate said.
"This is really the last resort."
Magistrate Richter handed down a four-month term of imprisonment.
Cole will spend one month in prison, before serving the remaining three months in the community under a good behaviour order.
