Natham James Brogmus narrowly avoids prison after failing to show for trial and spending month ‘on the run’

A 39-year-old Albany man who was found hiding under a bed by police after a month “on the run” has narrowly avoided a return to prison. Natham James Brogmus, 39, appeared in Albany Magistrates Court via video link from Albany Regional Prison last Thursday and pleaded guilty to breaching bail and his fourth offence of no authority to drive. Police prosecutor Sgt Dave Loverock told the court Brogmus was driving a Holden Commodore with two passengers about 10.50pm on December 1 when he pulled into the McKail General Store. He said when questioned by police, Brogmus — who did not have a driver’s licence — denied he was the driver, but CCTV footage confirmed he was the one behind the wheel. After pleading not guilty to the no authority to drive charge in April, Brogmus was set to face trial on July 12, but he failed to show. Sgt Loverock said Brogmus had contacted police the day before the trial to review the CCTV footage from the case. On August 13, police found him hiding under a bed at a property in Spencer Park, where he was arrested. Sgt Loverock said an immediate term of imprisonment was appropriate because Brogmus had been released from prison about four months before the offence, and his record showed he did not follow court orders. After failing to show up for the trial, he was “on the run” for about a month, Sgt Loverock said. Speaking in court, Brogmus said a suspended prison sentence would allow him to get on the right track with “imprisonment over his head”. He said there were no courses available in prison to address his traffic offending and if he got a suspended sentence he could do courses to change his “learnt behaviour”. He told the court he was not now using methamphetamine and would “give it my best shot” to stay off drugs if released. “A term of imprisonment puts me further back,” he said. Magistrate Heidi Watson told Brogmus driving was “not a right but a privilege”. However, she said his rehabilitation was important and she had decided to give him a chance. Brogmus received a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for a year, with supervision and program requirements. His licence was disqualified for 10 months.