Dylan Paul Keith Hill: Nine months immediate prison for leading cops on 46km “merry chase” to Narrikup

An Albany man has earned a nine-month prison term for leading police on a “merry chase” for 46km before crashing his car into a tree. Dylan Paul Keith Hill, 33, appeared in Albany Magistrates Court on November 30 on six charges. Hill pleaded guilty to two charges of possessed drug paraphernalia in or on which there was a prohibited drug or plant, and one charge of no authority to drive suspended (other than fines suspension). He previously pleaded guilty on August 17 to one charge of driving a vehicle that failed to comply with a direction to stop (circumstance of aggravation) and one charge of no authority to drive suspended (other than fines suspension). Hill pleaded guilty on November 14 to dangerous driving to escape police. Police prosecutor Sgt Warrick Walker told the court that about 1.50am on July 13, police pursued Hill for 46km from Orana to Narrikup. Hill was driving a Mitsubishi Pajero in Orana when he was signalled by police officers to stop, with the pursuit ending only when he crashed into a tree on Marbelup Road. For two minutes of the pursuit, which occurred while he was on bail for other matters, Hill drove on the wrong side of the road. Legal Aid defence lawyer Michelle Gonsalves said Hill realised when the police flicked their lights on that he was driving on a suspended licence and “panicked”. Magistrate Dianne Scaddan labelled the pursuit “troublesome” and noted Hill has had problems with illicit substances. “You led police on a merry chase of tens and tens of kilometres and had ample opportunity to pull over,” she said. “You continue to drive when you ought not to be.” Hill previously lost his licence in 2016 for four years. Hill was fined $400 for drug possession and was taken into custody to immediately begin serving a term of nine months imprisonment.