18-year-old mother imprisoned for seven months for speeding away from Mullewa police pursuit

An 18-year-old mother who smashed a fence while speeding away from police has been sentenced to seven months jail and fined more than $6000. Police attempted to stop Kiosha Tekayah Bree Wall on July 1, 2022, while she was driving in Mullewa along Geraldton-Mt Magnet Road. Wall attempted to drive away from police, crossing over a solid white line to overtake a road train and smashing into a fence while making a turn. Wall continued driving and police stopped pursuing her, instead arresting her at her home afterwards. At the time, Wall was driving with a suspended licence. Wall’s lawyer said she panicked when police flashed their lights and she was driving to pick up her nieces who had been left alone. Reckless driving to escape pursuit carries a mandatory term of imprisonment, with a maximum of two years and a minimum of six months. Magistrate Angus Hockton said the nature of the offence was too serious to be dealt with by a minimum sentence. “You’re not only putting your own life in danger, you’re putting other lives in danger,” he said. Mr Hockton acknowledged Wall did not have a adult criminal record and pleaded guilty and gave her a seven-month term of imprisonment. Wall was fined $5500 for failing to stop when ordered, driving without authority, failing to stop after an accident and failing to report the accident to police. She also failed to appear for a court appearance for the matter and was fined $400 for breaching bail. For a separate incident in which Wall yelled at police during an altercation, she was fined $400 for disorderly behaviour. Wall will be eligible for parole after three-and-a-half months.