Daniel Jol Baxter, 37, will have his licence suspended until halfway through 2035. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
A man who led police on multiple road chases, among other offending, will be unable to legally drive for more than a decade.
Daniel Jol Baxter, 37, faced the ACT Supreme Court for sentencing on 24 property and driving offences in February 2025.
In recently published remarks, Supreme Court Acting Justice Rebecca Christensen described his offending as part “crime spree”, while others actions showed “some persistence and brazenness”.
The offending started on 2 May when Baxter and a co-offender went to a residence, taking several items before leaving.
Several weeks later, on 7 September, Baxter drove a stolen car, which used number plates for another car, to a service station. He filled it with $119.58 of fuel and drove off without paying.
An unmarked police vehicle recognised that the car was stolen and followed it. In response, Baxter accelerated and drove on the wrong side of the road to escape police.
The following day (8 September), he was driving a different car that also had its number plates changed to ones reported stolen.
He was seen getting out of a car while naked before taking a pink blanket from the car and wrapping it around him.
After driving away, he stopped at a Monash residence and left a note there, which Justice Christensen said was later used to identify him.
Later that day, police approached Baxter and tried to apprehend him by smashing the front driver’s side window and discharging a taser but Baxter was able to drive away.
Police started a pursuit, activating their emergency lights and sirens. He mounted a curb and drove over a footpath during the chase, ultimately driving at a speed of more than 120 km/h in a 60 km/h zone.
While weaving around traffic, he went over 130 km/h before escaping officers.
On the afternoon of 15 September, police found him driving in Scullin, again using stolen number plates.
While police were following him, he drove the car between 80 km/h and 100 km/h, mounting a footpath during part of the chase.
Police again activated their sirens, but Mr Baxter failed to stop and drove up the footpath to escape.
Two days later (17 September), police used a tyre deflation device and a Taser several times in an attempt to stop Baxter when he pulled into a Belconnen car park, but he was able to drive away.
Police then used another tyre deflation device, but he again drove onto the kerb to evade it and drove through a red light to avoid arrest.
Four days later, on 21 September, police found him at a Higgins address with a key fob for a car he had been seen driving previously.
His charges included five counts of driving while disqualified, three of aggravated dangerous driving, four charges of using a numberplate issued for another vehicle and a charge each of dangerous driving, minor theft and indecent exposure.
Baxter told the court he was “not himself” during the offending. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
In sentencing, Baxter sought a drug and alcohol treatment order, which was not opposed by the prosecution.
He told the court his recent offending was driven by a want to get more drugs and said he was “not himself” at the time.
Baxter started using substances when he was a teenager. He ultimately became dependent on opioids when he was 28 years old after an injury and later started using other illicit drugs, including methylamphetamine.
“[Baxter] describes that it [his methylamphetamine use] quickly became problematic for him and led to his first entry into custody,” she said.
Acting Justice Christensen said Baxter’s offending increased in the years after his addiction began. However, she also said Baxter did have the capacity to follow court orders when his substance misuse was addressed.
Also, Acting Justice Christensen was concerned with his history of driving while disqualified, which she said limited any leniency.
“In Mr Baxter’s circumstances, though, he has repeatedly driven while disqualified, with a criminal history of driving offending indicative of a complete disregard for the privilege that a licence entails and respect for other road users,” she said.
Acting Justice Christensen sentenced him to a drug and alcohol treatment order of just under three years and nine months. The custodial part of the order was suspended until November 2028.
Also, he was disqualified from driving for just over 10 years, until June 2035.
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