The 25-year-old man has been charged following an alleged burnout and police chase in south Canberra. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
A man accused of doing a burnout before leading police on a chase through southern Canberra suburbs showed a “total disregard for the safety” of others, a court has heard.
William Jason Ward, 25, applied for bail in the ACT Magistrates Court through a video-link on Friday (16 January).
An ACT Policing spokesperson alleged officers saw a light-coloured Toyota HiLux with NSW registration doing a burnout at the intersection of Box Hill Avenue and Heidelberg Street in Condor about 11 pm on Thursday (15 January).
Police directed the driver, alleged to be Mr Ward, to pull over. He allegedly failed to stop and instead drove away at speed.
On Friday, the court heard he allegedly drove on the wrong side of the road multiple times and crossed onto a medium strip during the incident.
Near the intersection of Box Hill Avenue and Balcombe Street, he is said to have lost control and collided with a streetlight.
Mr Ward is also accused of leading police on a high-speed chase along Tharwa Drive and Drakeford Drive before police lost sight of the vehicle on Woodcock Drive in Gordon.
Police say the 25-year-old called police and surrendered himself around midnight. It’s alleged he later returned a blood alcohol level of 0.185.
Mr Ward has been handed charges of aggravated reckless driving, damaging property, improper use of a motor vehicle, driving with a suspended licence, driving while a suspension notice is in effect, drink driving and failing to stop for police.
He is also facing two charges of driving while disqualified.
In court, a prosecutor didn’t oppose bail, pointing to Mr Ward’s decision to hand himself in after the alleged incident.
The court heard that, if granted bail, Mr Ward would be subject to conditions that would bar him from driving or having car keys.
His defence lawyer also said her client was willing to also accept supervision from ACT Corrective Services if released.
She said that while Mr Ward had instances of “somewhat similar offending” in his criminal history, this was “limited”.
Magistrate Glenn Theakston ultimately refused bail, finding the risk to the community if Mr Ward drove was too high.
“If he were to comply with it [the proposed conditions around not driving], that would address the risk,” the Magistrate said.
“But I have no confidence that he would and should he not comply, the risk to the public is very serious.”
He said Mr Ward had shown a “total disregard for the safety of anyone else” during the alleged offending, describing the conduct as “extremely dangerous”.
He pointed to the high speeds during the chase, which were alleged to be as high as 120 or 110 km/h and how Mr Ward also “narrowly avoided another road user” while driving erratically.
In a statement on Friday morning, ACT Policing called for any witnesses to the alleged offending to come forward.
“Police are urging any witnesses or anyone with dash-cam footage of the Toyota HiLux driving dangerously in Conder, Gordon or Theodore to come forward,” a spokesperson said.
People can contact Crime Stoppers through the Crime Stoppers ACT website, quoting 8275994. Information can be provided anonymously.
Mr Ward will next face court on 10 February. No pleas were entered.
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