Former NZ Idol winner Matthew Saunoa has been jailed for over six years for a deliberate hit-and-run that nearly killed a police officer who was trying to stop him.
The 38-year-old previously pleaded guilty to aggravated grievous bodily harm, unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, burglary and a string of motor vehicle offences relating to the chase in November 2021.
Sitting in the dock at the Manukau District Court on Wednesday, the former reality TV star was handed a sentence of six years and seven months in prison by Judge Ngaroma Tahana.
Ngaroma said that while she accepted Saunoa was remorseful, he had led police on a “spree of very dangerous driving” and deliberately hit a police officer.
“You made no effort to stop and attend to [the officer],” she said.
Earlier, Saunoa had listened to the officer speak of the physical and emotional pain the former TV star had caused him.
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