Ryan Twist’s driving was so out of control during the half-hour pursuit on September 20 that highway patrol officers were forced to call off the chase twice, and had to rely on the police helicopter to monitor his driving route from above.

Even road spikes failed to halt Twist’s advance up the Princes Highway from Kiama towards Wollongong, with the recent parolee continuing to drive for several more kilometres, despite a flat front tyre, before ditching his vehicle.

He was arrested in bushland after jumping from his still-moving vehicle at the end of Boronia Avenue in Windang.

In the car police found a 70-centimetre machete and multiple bags of drugs.

Twist entered guilty pleas to a host of charges when he appeared in court three days after the chase, with magistrate Mark Douglass saying at the time that Twist’s conduct would likely land him a lengthy stint behind bars.

However, in court on Wednesday, Mr Douglass was persuaded to consider an alternative sentence for the repeat offender after reading a letter Twist had written to the court from his jail cell outlining his long addiction to drugs.

‘‘He started using ice at the age of 14,’’ Mr Douglass said.

‘‘[He has] a few mental health issues, probably from drug-induced psychosis.

‘‘He wants to do full time rehabilitation. Given [he’s] done some time in jail, he’s had time to think about this.

‘‘I believe it’s a genuine realisation that he needs rehabilitation, I think it’s an appropriate course of action.’’

Twist will be assessed for suitability for a full-time rehabilitation program. 

The case will return to court in Decembe