By ANNA USHER

A Neutral Bay man who has only ever held a Learner’s permit has been jailed after he was caught driving while disqualified – for the ninth time.

The case was first reported by the Daily Telegraph.

Harley Roy Turnbull, 34, led police on a chase through the narrow back lanes near his Neutral Bay flat on Australia Day.

He was sentenced at Manly Local Court earlier this month.

Turnbull was on a good behaviour order at the time, the court was told – for his eighth drive while disqualified conviction.

He was driving a Subaru hatchback on Watson St about 5.20pm on 26 January when police saw him turn into a driveway without indicating, according to a police facts sheet tendered to the court.

When asked if he had a licence, he told police he “didn’t have it”.

Asked to reverse out because he was blocking the entrance, Turnbull instead “took off at speed”, the facts sheet said.

A chase through Neutral Bay laneways the ensued.
Turnbull hit speeds of up to 60km/h and ignored a “No Entry” sign to on Cheal Lane, trying to outrun police.

The Subaru was found soon after, abandoned in Barry Lane.

Turnbull was arrested later that night.

“I messed up, I panicked,” he told Judge Gary Still.

The court was told Turnbull had never held a full driver’s licence – only a Learner’s permit.

He pleaded guilty to one count each of drive while disqualified and police pursuit (not stop) – drive dangerously.

His Legal Aid solicitor said Turnbull had battled drug and alcohol problems since the age of 13, had a troubled upbringing and lived with post-traumatic stress disorder.

“At some point someone’s got to give you a sentence to stop you doing what you’re doing,” Judge Still told him.

Turnbull, who appeared via video link, was given an aggregate sentence of nine months’ jail, with a non-parole period of five months.

He will be eligible for release on 3 November.

“If you keep doing this, you’re going to keep getting locked up,” Judge Still said.

First reported by the Daily Telegraph.