Disqualified driver reached speeds of 100km/h during city police chase

A disqualified driver reached speeds of up to 120km/h as he sped through a red traffic light during a police chase which put Ballarat motorists in danger.

Brandon Holmes, 26, was spotted driving an unregistered red Holden Commodore in the southern suburbs of Ballarat on May 23 at 1.35am when he was seen drifting through a roundabout.

Police activated their lights and started following Holmes, who accelerated, crossed onto the wrong side of the road and continued travelling between 80km/h and 100km/h in a 80km/h zone.

While on the wrong side of the road, Holmes turned right into Latrobe Street and continued in an easterly direction. He overtook a vehicle, corrected his driving and continued to speed in an attempt to avoid police.

Holmes continued to drive at speeds above the limit of up to 100km/h, crossing onto the wrong side of roads.

He turned into Gillies Street and accelerated at a fast rate of speed police estimated to be about 100km/h in a 60km/h zone, in a northerly direction.

Due to Holmes' erratic and dangerous driving towards a busy Gillies Street intersection, police officers decided to terminate the pursuit. Other police officers saw Holmes continue to drive about 120km/h towards the intersection and drive through a red light.

Police said this put other motorists in danger.

Holmes' vehicle was located two minutes later on Gillies Street North. He had collided with a light pole and fled, leaving his wallet and mobile phone in the car.

Holmes was recently sentenced at the Ballarat Magistrates Court after he pleaded guilty to 26 charges, which included serious driving and dishonesty offences.

He admitted to recklessly engaging in conduct erratic and dangerous driving that may have placed a person in danger of serious injury, dangerous driving while being pursued by police, disqualified driving and driving an unregistered vehicle. Other matters included handling stolen goods.

His defence counsel had submitted Holmes was Aboriginal, he had family issues and he was homeless at the time of the offending.

Holmes had not engaged in drug and alcohol services after he was released from custody last year, the court was told.

Magistrate Noreen Toohey said there was absolutely no question drugs were an enormous problem for Holmes.

"I think you understand that if this continues ... that when you are in a vehicle and you drive in the way you do, you put yourself at risk and put everyone else at risk," Ms Toohey said.

"I think you understand that if you keep coming back to court in relation to these matters, the court will have no option but to keep imposing prison terms. The only thing that will change is the length of the prison terms. It won't be days, it will be years."

Holmes was sentenced to 59 days' imprisonment, which was declared as already served, and an 18-month community corrections order.

The order includes supervision, drug treatment and rehabilitation, and mental health assessment and treatment.

"This is an opportunity for you to engage in a corrections order, take control of your issues," Ms Toohey told Holmes.

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