A BENDIGO drug trafficker who drove at double the speed limit to avoid police has been jailed for 18 months.
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Joshua Michael Taylor, 25, was sentenced in the Bendigo Magistrates' Court on Friday after he pleaded guilty to charges including trafficking methamphetamine, theft of a motor vehicle, and dealing with the proceeds of crime.
The court heard in the early hours of August 24, 2019, keys to a house and a silver BMW X5 were stolen from a Bendigo address.
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The unknown offenders then returned to the property the next day and stole the BMW.
The court heard about 8.44pm on August 27, Taylor was captured on CCTV footage driving the stolen BMW at a KFC in Bendigo. The car was displaying stolen number plates.
About 10.20pm on August 30, police executed a search warrant at a Flora Hill property where Taylor was staying.
The officers found the stolen BMW parked out the front, along with several stolen motorbikes. The BMW was displaying manufactured registration plates.
Police searched the front bedroom of the property and found several outstanding stolen registration plates, 10 grams of methamphetamine, white powder believed to be cocaine, GHB, ammunition cartridges, a knife, and drug paraphernalia.
Police also found $13,750.50 in cash inside a safe, which was believed to be the proceeds of crime.
The court heard about four hours later, police saw Taylor driving an outstanding stolen white Subaru along Fenton Street in North Bendigo.
Police tried to intercept the car but it sped off, driving through the intersection of McCrae Street and Baxter Street.
The car collided with a truck, but Taylor and another person ran from the car before police arrived.
The court heard the Subaru was displaying stolen number plates.
Officers searched the car and found personal documents in Taylor's name, along with Taylor's wallet, a knife, drug paraphernalia, and an extendable baton.
They also found $4145 in cash in the glove box, the keys to the stolen BMW, and four safe keys that were connected to the safe found in the Flora Hill property.
Detectives examined the stolen vehicles and found Taylor's fingerprints.
Taylor was arrested on November 22 at a property in Kennington.
Police searched his room and found $2544 in cash, a taser, an outstanding stolen laptop, 0.5 grams of methamphetamine, an extendable baton, drug paraphernalia, and a hunting knife.
During a police interview, Taylor admitted to driving the BMW while unlicensed but denied stealing the vehicle.
He denied being in the stolen Subaru during the crash but admitted to being in the car at a different time.
Taylor spent about four months on remand before he was released on bail on April 9 last year.
The court heard on the morning of October 1, police executed another search warrant at a Flora Hill property. Taylor was not there at the time.
Police found 0.5 grams of methamphetamine, two grams of cannabis, and a taser.
Officers contacted Taylor on October 4 and organised for him to come into the station the next day for an interview.
Taylor never showed up despite repeated calls from police. A warrant was issued.
The court heard on the morning of October 29, police saw Taylor driving a green Holden Commodore in the Goornong area.
Police tried to stop him, but he sped off, travelling at 138km/h in a 100km/h zone. The car was displaying false number plates.
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On November 27, police attended a Bendigo address where they believed Taylor was staying.
He did not come to the door but police later saw him run to the car of an associate. The associate rammed a parked car and then a police car to avoid arrest.
The court heard on December 7 police saw Taylor again driving the green Commodore in the Huntly area. They tried to intercept him but he sped off at 120km/h in a 60/km zone.
Police arrested Taylor at his home on December 14.
They searched his property and found 50 grams of methamphetamine, about $700 in cash, an external hard drive, extendable baton, and a notepad detailing drug transactions.
Defence lawyer Adrienna Kisvarda told the court Taylor had spent 234 days in pre-sentence detention.
Ms Kisvarda said her client had a young son and a stable address to live at when released from prison. She said Taylor wanted to be rehabilitated for his drug issues.
Magistrate Patrick Southey said Taylor had a "long and serious" criminal history but he "wasn't a lost cause".
"Experience shows blokes often wake-up to themselves in their mid-20s," Mr Southey said. "Hopefully you're one of them.
"Everyone else your age will start to kick goals and you'll be left behind like a loser if you don't get your act together.
"You will lead some miserable life if you don't change. You have a lot to live for. Get your act together for your son, if not for yourself."
Mr Southey sentenced Taylor to 18 months in jail with a non-parole period of nine months.
Taylor's licence was cancelled and he was disqualified from driving for the next 12 months.
If Taylor did not plead guilty, he would have been jailed for two years with a non-parole period of 14 months.
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