A Barrie man who took police officers on a chase through southern Simcoe County at more than double the posted speed limit in April has been sentenced to two years less a day in jail.
James Canning, 39, has also been prohibited from driving for the rest of his life.
Canning pleaded guilty to 10 criminal and drug charges Thursday during a Barrie court hearing held over a video conference.
Minus credit for the 77 days he spent in jail waiting for his day in court, Canning was handed a 613-day sentence.
Court heard that Canning was tracked down and charged with help from the public after police first tried to pull him over at County Road 89, west of County Road 4, for what looked like a hand-painted licence plate. It turned out to have expired in 2019.
Canning refused to pull over and led police through the streets of Innisfil and south toward Bradford.
Police ultimately terminated the chase, but Canning lost control of his vehicle at a set of railroad tracks. He then ditched the car, fleeing along the tracks on foot.
Police caught up to his cloud of dust and were directed by onlookers to a wooded area where he was eventually found by police.
Police had earlier indicated a police dog was used in the arrest. Court heard Canning suffered dog bites while being apprehended.
Court heard a mask and a bag of tools, including a hammer and gloves, were found in the car as well as a small pink container containing crystal meth.
In addition to the police chase, Canning pleaded guilty to five drug possession charges, hocking a stolen ring in October, and four other charges relating to car-related events in January 2020, April 2019 as well as a March 2019 police chase along Hanmer Street East in Barrie.
Court heard that although he has a long record, there was a gap between 2014 and 2019.
Canning addressed the court and athough most of what he said was inaudible through the phone line, he said he had a substance-abuse problem, but has the support of his family in Barrie.
Justice Cecile Applegate told Canning he would likely have ended up in a federal penitentiary if he had been convicted after a trial and were it not for the current health crisis.
His record, she added, indicated that he had trouble following court orders.
“You’ve just got to figure out a way… so you don’t come back to the courts,” the judge cautioned Canning.
