Andrew Gowshall, 42, was handed a jail sentence on a dangerous driving charge. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
A dangerous driver profoundly affected two police officers when he drove at them during a lengthy car chase through Canberra, a judge has said.
Andrew Gowshall used meth before he fled from police during a car chase that lasted for half an hour and continued through a number of residential suburbs around midday on 17 November 2024.
He drove at high speeds, on the wrong side of the road, close to two pedestrians walking their dog, and onto the green belt near houses and a school, Acting Justice Patricia Kelly said in her sentencing remarks.
He rear-ended another vehicle and continued driving even after police successfully deployed a tyre deflation device on his car.
In addition, he drove straight towards a police car that contained two police officers. When one of these officers was outside the car, deploying the tyre deflation device, he also drove towards this officer.
Gowshall was arrested that same day and remained in custody while he pleaded guilty to driving at or near police and dangerous driving before facing the ACT Supreme Court for sentencing on Friday (7 November).
The 42-year-old faced a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
“The two young police officers who were the victims of [the offence] have been profoundly affected by your behaviour on that day,” Acting Justice Kelly said.
“[One] explained the fear that is always at the forefront of any police officer’s mind as they go about their duties. That apprehension materialised on that day for both officers.
“What impacted [this officer] most on that day was not only the danger he personally faced but your complete disregard for the safety of your fellow human beings going about their business on a Sunday morning.”
Meanwhile, the second police officer had already been the victim of another similar incident and said she now had doubts about whether she could continue with police work.
The judge did accept that Gowshall recklessly, rather than intentionally, risked the safety of the two police officers.
She said he suffered several stressful events in 2023, which initiated his depressive illness and caused him to increase his drug use to alleviate stress.
“You began using hard drugs, which caused a further decline in your mental health, a vicious cycle which ultimately resulted in you exhibiting reckless behaviour,” she said.
Acting Justice Kelly accepted that he showed a degree of remorse. As he spent almost a year in custody, this led her to accept his lawyers’ submission that it was appropriate to impose an intensive correction order (ICO), a community-based sentence.
Gowshall was convicted and sentenced to nearly 10 months in jail, followed by a roughly two-year and three-month ICO. As his jail sentence was backdated to account for the time he had already served, this meant he was eligible for release from custody on Friday.
He was also disqualified from driving for a period of two years.
Classy and eloquent speech … not! View