Police chased a Ford Ranger towing a car through Canberra on 8 April 2025. Photo: Screenshot.
An alleged dangerous driver put many people, both police and members of the public, at risk during a half-hour interstate car chase earlier this year, a court has heard.
The incident, allegedly involving John Warren Westaway on 8 April 2025, only ended when he was arrested after jumping into Lake Burley Griffin.
Around 9 am that morning, police officers in NSW began chasing the driver of a car, allegedly Westaway, as they realised he was the subject of an arrest warrant, the ACT Magistrates Court heard.
This car chase lasted for half an hour and continued into the ACT until he was arrested. Afterwards, he allegedly said he’d consumed meth.
During the car chase, there were allegedly lengthy periods where Westaway drove on the wrong side of the road towards oncoming vehicles, as well as on bike and pedestrian paths, while cyclists and pedestrians were using these paths.
Any of these members of the public could have been harmed or killed by his alleged conduct, Special Magistrate Lucinda Wilson said on Thursday (13 November).
“It is amazing to the court that no one was harmed in that demonstration of serious dangerous driving,” she said.
Westaway remained in custody after his arrest before applying for bail on Thursday.
Barrister Ben Barrack said his client had been a prolific drug user throughout his life and hadn’t addressed his mental health issues or put in place strategies to prevent drug relapse.
“There’s only one way that this pattern can be broken, and in my submission, that is residential rehabilitation,” he said.
Mr Barrack said the 39-year-old was motivated to address his substance use, and it would obviously be beneficial to the community if he stopped using drugs.
Prosecutor Madeleine Gallo, who opposed bail, claimed that Westaway went to “extreme lengths” to avoid arrest.
She alleged he had been fully aware of the presence of police, but still drove dangerously, and he put both members of the public and police officers at risk.
Ms Gallo said that since entering the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC), he had been involved in 16 incidents and subjected to four disciplinary actions.
Special Magistrate Wilson said she was told Westaway’s alleged conduct on 8 April was because of his addiction.
“It is not clear to the court why the defendant has not done something about his serious, entrenched drug addiction,” she said.
She said the allegations were extremely serious and it was “astounding” that no one was hurt by the father-of-five’s alleged actions during the car chase.
Special Magistrate Wilson also said she didn’t think he would be eligible for a residential rehabilitation program, as he had continued to use drugs while in the AMC.
“There is no basis upon which I would grant this defendant bail,” she said.
“He is far too great a risk to the community.”
Bail was refused and the matter was adjourned to 24 November.
His charges include failing to stop for police, using an offensive weapon to hinder his arrest, driving dangerously, drug driving and unlicenced driving.
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