A man in Magistrates’ Court yesterday admitted several traffic-related offences, but denied drug possession.

Joshua Usher, 32, pleaded guilty to driving dangerously, refusing to stop for police, riding without third-party insurance and riding an unlicensed motorcycle.

However, he denied having THC with the intent to supply, along with using a fraudulent license plate.

The court heard that police on mobile patrol on Reid Street in Hamilton crossed paths with a motorcycle on the evening of May 3.

The rider accelerated through a red traffic light after spotting officers.

Police followed Usher down Court Street as he sped through more red lights.

The pursuit went west on Front Street and through Parliament, Reid and Burnaby Streets before Usher turned back onto Front Street, making a U-turn.

Usher ignored more traffic lights, swerved dangerously through traffic and rode against the flow of vehicles on Burnaby Street.

Police turned on their emergency equipment, but Usher continued to ride through Burnaby Street while ignoring more red lights and other drivers.

During a subsequent chase through North Hamilton, Usher rode through stop signs, and two pedestrians using the crossing on Angle Street had to jump away to avoid being hit.

He was caught and arrested after crashing into a roundabout on Angle Street.

Usher, from Pembroke, apologised to the court and explained that he rode off because he did not know who the police were and feared for his safety.

Nicole Smith, for the defence, added that her client did not realise he was being pursued by officers until “three quarters of the way through the incident”.

Senior magistrate Maxanne Anderson fined Usher $3,550 and banned him from the road for 18 months.

She adjourned the remaining matters until February 2, releasing him on a combined bail of $5,500.

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