Drunken hoon Damian Boyd Franklin pleads guilty to high-speed police pursuit through Busselton

A Busselton hoon who sparked a drunken high-speed police chase after he was caught doing burnouts will wait to find out his fate behind bars. Damian Boyd Franklin, 45, pleaded guilty to reckless driving, driving without authority, failing to stop for police and reckless driving to escape police pursuit in Busselton Magistrates Court on Tuesday. In September last year, Franklin was seen by officers doing burnouts on Stanley Street outside the station, and when approached shortly after by police outside a bottle shop fled in his white Holden Commodore. Sparking a high-speed chase, Franklin drove on the wrong side of the road at nearly 40km over the limit and up to 60km/h over the limit on Bussell Highway. Police eventually aborted the pursuit over fears for public safety, however, later that night he was once again reported doing burnouts on Marine Terrace. Police managed to locate his Commodore abandoned in a car park and later Franklin himself on foot. It was revealed in court Franklin’s hooning was coupled with excessive alcohol abuse, however, his level of intoxication is not yet known. Attempting to apply for bail until his sentencing later this month, defence lawyer Michael Laurino told the court Franklin had no criminal record. He claimed Franklin had a “self-defeating personality pattern which underpins the majority of his behaviour” that night. However, the application was denied and Franklin was remanded in custody until his sentencing date on April 26.