A man who covered himself in mud while hiding from a police helicopter in mangroves during a desperate bid to avoid arrest on the Gold Coast has learned his fate in court.
Troy Aviet, 34, was sentenced to 12 months' jail in the Southport Magistrates Court on Friday, after pleading guilty to weapon and drug possession charges.
His dramatic arrest on May 19 last year was captured on officers' body-worn cameras.
The ordeal began when Aviet caused a four-car crash while driving erratically in the northbound lanes of the M1 at Oxenford during peak hour.
He and a woman passenger jumped the highway barriers and fled the scene, sparking a major police manhunt.
She was located nearby, however he swam across a creek to escape and disappeared into mangroves.
More than an hour later, a police helicopter's infrared camera picked up his heat signature and a dog squad found him "completely submerged" in the mud.
Officers uncovered two clip seal bags of cocaine, a black ski mask, a loaded handgun and a box of ammunition in his backpack.
Minimum sentence imposed
The court heard at the time he was on probation and had a Supreme Court suspended sentence for similar offences, after spending most of his adult life in jail.
Despite his eight-page criminal history, Magistrate Veena Goverdhan imposed the mandatory minimum sentence of one year for unlawful possession of a firearm.
"Australia offers so many free services for rehabilitation," she said.
"I hope that you will seek assistance and turn your life around."
Having already served 247 days in custody since his arrest, he will be eligible for release in May.
