Inverell Local Court: Zoe Justine Blair sentenced for police pursuit, assaulting police, alongside a 'raft' of other charges

Inverell Local Court earlier this month heard Zoe Justine Blair, 29, had personal circumstances which solicitor Guy Newby said may "persuade the court" to consider her sentence not be served behind bars.

Blair's "raft of charges" included police pursuit, drive manner dangerous, speeding, two counts of assaulting a police officer, common assault, enter enclosed land, drug possession, unregistered firearm possession and not keeping it safely, and breaching two community corrections orders.

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In March, Blair was charged with assaulting police when two officers were called to Inverell hospital to assist in subduing her for medical treatment. She punched one officer in the face and bit another, which then led the officer to undergo multiple tests for infectious diseases.

The common assault and enter enclosed land charges stem from a report made on June 5 that Blair had gone, unwelcome, to a house and punched one of the residents there.

The very next day, she led police on a chase in a white Volkswagen Beetle, when she refused to pull over when police saw her speeding.

At one point, she drove straight towards another police vehicle parked on the opposite side of the road, which she later said was to "scare them".

During the chase, she hit speeds of up to 150kms/hr, veering all over both sides of the road and ignoring posted 'stop' signs.

Police statements tendered to court say the pursuit was terminated due to safety concerns, but they found her at the Royal Hotel after "extensive" searches across the Inverell CBD.

She was arrested and made full admissions, both to the pursuit and to yet another matter - relating to an unregistered rifle.

On May 19, police were called to a motel in Inverell after cleaning staff found a stash of drug paraphernalia in a room.

When officers arrived, they also saw what looked like an empty gun magazine and a shortened .22 rifle, which checks revealed was unregistered.

"Well that was part of the reasons I took off today," she told interviewing police after her arrest.

"When we went back to the motel, the coppers were there."

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Police statements said she made "full and frank" admissions, telling police she'd found a family member with it and confiscated it out of fear for them, having made arrangements to bury it at a Moree property.

"She had gone off the rails... and was going off the rails with the assault of the two police officers," Mr Newby said.

He said she was now taking her medication and had "leveled out" since her two-month incarceration experience, and was eager to participate in her mental health plan provided by Armajun Aboriginal Medical Service.

With a close family member recently taking their own life, he said arrangements had been made for Blair to attend the funeral if she was released.

Mr Newby submitted an application for a section 32, so she could be dealt with by medical means rather than in the criminal justice system, however Magistrate Holly Kemp said the matters were "too serious" to direct away from the courts.

For all the charges, she gave an overarching aggregate sentence of a 15-month ICO to start immediately, with "specific and targeted" conditions she undergo treatment and rehab for her mental health, continue to take her prescribed medication, and be supervised by Inverell Community Corrections.

Her two CCOs were revoked and included in the final ICO.

"Take advantage of of the support because it is special", Magistrate Kemp told her of Armajun's health services, which she called a "one stop shop" for all Blair's needs.

"Thank you. Thank you Guy," Blair said from the audio visual link.

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