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Posted: 2024-08-23 07:54:25

An ACT Supreme Court judge has issued a scathing attack on police for tasering a man at the end of a frantic chase along major roads in Canberra's north last year.

Nathaniel Coulter, 22, pleaded guilty to aggravated driving, two counts of driving at police, driving a stolen car and driving while disqualified.

Footage played to the court shows the rapidly unfolding events, when Coulter drove at police who were trying to throw tyre deflation devices on the road, driving his car across median strips, on the wrong side of the road, and running red lights.

By the time the car was stopped the tyres were destroyed and Coulter was driving on the rims.

Justice Louise Taylor said she acknowledged the offences were serious and didn't underestimate the challenges in police work, but the taser did not seem to be used to subdue Coulter in reasonable circumstances

"[The use of the taser] has the very real appearance of being used only to punish him," she said.

Justice Taylor said from the body cam vision it can be seen that Coulter is sitting submissively in the front seat of the car, wearing a seat belt, not trying to resist or run away.

The ACT Supreme Court towards dusk.

ACT Supreme Court Justice Louise Taylor said Coulter being tasered despite sitting in a car in a submissive position gave the appearance it was used to punish rather than subdue him. (ABC News: Ian Cutmore)

She told the court he was surrounded by police and dragged from the car, but not before one officer put a taser through the window.

"The seriousness of an offender's conduct is not a licence to disregard the obligations [of police powers]," Justice Taylor said.

Justice Taylor noted some might like police to have powers to punish offenders on the spot, but the boundaries of police powers are not blurred.

The court considered pre sentence reports on Coulter, who Justice Taylor said had shown remorse and empathy over the incident and the potential impact it could have had.

"[He said] he would feel pissed off if it was him," Justice Taylor recounted.

But she also noted the lengthy time he has spent in custody during his short adult life.

"There is I think a risk of the offender becoming institutionalised," Justice Taylor said.

She sentenced Coulter to three years and two months jail, which will be suspended after 14 months.

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