A Mandurah man who was caught driving the same day he was in court for suspended licence charges has been imprisoned for his "lawful disobedience".
Muchazviona Chiora (36) pleaded guilty to no authority to drive when he appeared in Mandurah Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Police said Chiora had eight prior driving under suspension convictions including a suspended imprisonment order, which was imposed the same day he was caught driving.
At about 2:23pm on July 24, 2020, police observed Chiora driving on McLarty Road and were alerted that his licence had been disqualified.
Police followed Chiora onto Admiralty Crescent and then into Caravel Way. As they turned back onto Admiralty Way police observed him running across the road.
The police stopped Chiora who made admissions to driving the vehicle.
The defence lawyer said Chiora drove to and from a bus stop on the day of the incident.
"He did drive his vehicle to a bus stop, which was located two streets away from his house, he then traveled to the Midland Courthouse and after attending court he went to Halls Head and collected his vehicle," she said.
The court heard many of his convictions were related to driving to his employment or supporting his partner who is unable to drive due to ongoing medical conditions.
The prosecution said Chiora's actions were "a very clear and defiant act of court suspensions".
"Not just the suspended imprisonment order given to him that morning once he arrived at court but effectively he drove to the train station to get to that court hearing and at that time he would've been subject to all of those outstanding suspensions he was facing," she said.
Magistrate Lynette Dias said his actions were a "pure defiance" of his previous convictions.
Chiora was sentenced to eight months imprisonment and was awarded eligibility for parole. His licence was disqualified for a further nine months.