Judge Tony Couch told the 24-year-old Christchurch man his "rush" of disqualified driving offenses would likely land him back in jail for a while.
"Most judges would start with a very substantial prison sentence," Judge Couch told him when he pleaded guilty to 10 counts of driving while disqualified, as well as failing to stop for a patrol car using his lights and sirens, and not remain detained.
He has six prior convictions for impaired driving and has already served an 11-month prison sentence for that and other crimes.
Repeated disqualifying driving violations, when there are more than two prior convictions, carry more severe penalties.
Attorney Todd Nicholls has asked that Freeman be placed on bond pending his sentencing, which is set for May 25.
Judge Couch said: "Never in 17 years have I seen a torrent of offenses like this in such a short time."
On June 30 of last year, Freeman was banned from driving for six months.
Near the end of that period, on December 8, police tried to stop him on Quinns Rd, Christchurch, but sped off when the patrol car's flashing lights came on.
Once he was captured, the police reportedly checked his bank card records and then went to the service stations where his bank card had been used, who gave them the dates and times of his visits.
Concourse cameras showed him making repeated visits to fill up his BMW.
Police made 22 charges based on bank records, but just a few days ago had to drop 12 of them because the gas station's photographic records of older visits had already been erased.
Photographs showing the defendant making 10 visits remained and were provided to his attorney, and Freeman pleaded guilty to those charges.
He said he thought the police had "stalked" him for the evidence, but Judge Couch would never accept his claim that it was a misdemeanor.
Nicholls said Freeman had a full-time job, which would be put at risk if he were taken into custody pending sentencing.
"The job gives you confidence in yourself and in doing something good for the world. I don't think imprisonment is safe in any way," he said.
He suggested that Freeman had a driving addiction and might seek help with it.
"This is not a misdemeanor," Judge Couch said.
"Each charge carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison. The starting point could be three or four years in prison. You are in very serious trouble here."
He said that while he was posting bail for sentencing and asking for a pre-sentence report that also covered Freeman's suitability for home detention, it was not an indication that he would not be incarcerated.
The police also raised the issue of confiscating the car involved in all the crimes.
-- David Clarkson
