Spencer Wright already had an unenviable driving record – replete with numerous convictions and driving bans – when a cop again found the Wawa man behind the wheel late last year.
At 5:15 p.m., on Nov. 14, the Ontaro Provincial Police officer spotted him on a parked four-wheeler, which had no licence plate, at a Petro Canada service station.
The officer spoke to Wright, reminding him he was a suspended driver, and urging him to push the vehicle to the side of the building, a judge heard Friday.
Wright did that, the officer left and parked nearby, prosecutor Stuart Woods said.
The accused approached the cop and asked if he could use the ATV to pick up some things because he was moving.
When the officer said no, warning he would be charged, the 30-year-old walked away, got on the four-wheeler and drove off, the Crown told Ontario Court Justice Romuald Kwolek.
OPP patrols couldn't locate Wright that day, but he wasn't arrested until Dec. 17.
Wright pleaded guilty to a Highway Traffic Act charge of driving while prohibited.
At the time of the offence, he was bound by five separate driving suspensions – two of which were life-time prohibitions – and two probation orders, Woods said.
Wright has a three-page record, stretching from 2013 to last year, with "no meaningful gaps," the assistant Crown attorney indicated.
He is being sentenced today with "a very aggravating record," replete with offences that include flight from police, refusing to provide a breath sample, two counts of dangerous driving and four counts of operating a vehicle while prohibited, Woods said.
Wright's rap sheet also includes 23 convictions for violating court orders.
"He will be looking at jail time" if he keeps breaching these orders, the prosecutor warned.
On that November day, the officer caught Wright red-handed and tried to save him from himself, the Crown said.
Police and public resources had to be utilized and Wright ended up spending time in custody during the holidays.
Defence lawyer Eric McCooeye said his client "should have taken to heart" what the officer advised.
"I obviously made a mistake," Wright admitted. "I value my freedom and I made a bad decision."
Kwolek responded, "You are 30 and in a short period of time have certainly accumulated quite a record . . . a lengthy record with multiple prohibitions."
The judge told him "I accept you are remorseful and hope you stay out of trouble."
He sentenced Wright to one-day time served – the equivalent of 45 days – for the time he spent in custody following his arrest.
As well, he imposed a 12-month concurrent driving prohibition.