A man who attempted to stop a police chase in Victoria's east by hacking into police radio transmissions has been sentenced to nearly two years in jail.
Vaughan William George, 42, pleaded guilty to broadcasting a pirate signal on the police radio network on multiple occasions between January and October last year.
In the most notorious incident, the Buchan man tried to call off a police chase in August by impersonating a police officer.
The police chase occurred after an armed robbery in Sale, in which George was not involved.
In recordings of the illegal transmissions George could be heard telling police to stop the chase, which finished in Traralgon.
"265 cancel the pursuit … pirate 101 … [unintelligible] … VKC to Bairnsdale 300 and 251, you can cancel," George said in the recording.
Police were aware George had been transmitting on their radio network for some time, but only took action after he interfered in the chase.
Offending 'serious and calculated'
George was sentenced in the Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court on Tuesday on dozens of charges, including illegally operating a radio communications transmitter, operating a transmitter to interfere with Victoria Police telecommunications, and drug and car theft offences.
Magistrate Simon Garnett told the court George's offending was "serious and calculated".
Mr Garnett said George had a long criminal history, but recognised his issues with mental health, alcohol and cannabis, and an apology George issued.
If not for his guilty plea, Mr Garnett told George he would have sentenced him to 24 months in jail.
George was ordered to forfeit his radio equipment, which police said would be sent to the office of Victoria's Police Minister Lisa Neville.
He was sentenced to 21 months in jail, with a minimum of 15 months.
With time already served, George will be eligible for parole in January.
