An unemployed beneficiary and repeat offender has lost nearly $90,000 in cash and several vehicles after fleeing a crashed BMW during a late-night police pursuit in Gisborne.
According to a report by Stuff, Samuel Sheridan, 40, abandoned the 2010 BMW 750i on April 6 after refusing to stop for police. Inside the wrecked car, officers found his driver’s licence, cell phone, $81,590 in cash, methamphetamine, cannabis, scales, and Ziplock bags. Sheridan was arrested in the Bay of Plenty three weeks later.
According to a recently released High Court decision by Justice Jason McHerron, police also seized Sheridan’s 2016 Ford Ranger Ute, a 2009 Harley-Davidson, a Holden Club Sport, and a Honda CRF 450R motorcycle under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act. The judge ruled the assets were “tainted” and that Sheridan’s income could not plausibly explain their acquisition.
The court directed the Official Assignee to sell the vehicles promptly to preserve their value, with the proceeds to be held until further orders are made.
Sheridan, who has 83 previous convictions, including 37 for drug-related offences, has pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine and cannabis for supply. He remains in custody and is due to be sentenced next month, Stuff reported.
This is not Sheridan’s first brush with serious offending. In 2019, he was jailed for more than two years after a hit-and-run in Gisborne left two school bus drivers with life-threatening injuries and permanent disabilities.