NSW Police have charged an allegedly drunk driver who led Highway Patrol on a 170-kilometre chase between Yass and Wagga Wagga.

Police were made aware of the man after he allegedly stole a case of beer from a grocery shop in East Murrumbateman.

The 55-year-old man was spotted travelling south on the Hume Highway near Yass in a Mercedes-Benz C180 Coupe, but failed to stop, causing the Police to engage in a pursuit at around 6.30pm on Sunday, November 27.

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Victoria Police car lights
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The man was arrested in Wagga Wagga, around 170km later, after failing to pay for fuel at a nearby petrol station.

NSW Police did not disclose the maximum speed achieved on the chase, but the man who was allegedly driving without a licence has been charged with the eight offences below after returning a positive roadside breath test, and subsequent 0.040 reading on a secondary breath analysis.

Charges laid by NSW Police
ShopliftingPolice pursuit u2013 not stop u2013 drive recklessly
Non stop vehicle when directed to do soNegligent driving (no death or grievous bodily harm)
Class A motor vehicle exceed speedDriver consume alcohol while driving
Dishonestly obtain property by deceptionLicence expired less than 2 years before u2013 first offence

The man was refused bail to appear in Wagga Wagga Local Court on November 28.

A police chase lasting 170km is by no means short, but is far from the longest pursuit in Australia’s recent history.

In 2004, police pursued a couple in a stolen BMW 600km across the Nullarbor, and in 2015 a man was charged following an 800km chase between Seaford in Victoria and South West Sydney in a hijacked rideshare car.

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