Jeye Michael Welsh, 20, was refused bail by the ACT Magistrates Court. Photo: Albert McKnight.
A young motorbike rider allegedly rode in circles around police officers on one of the several occasions that he led police on a chase over about 24 hours.
Jeye Michael Welsh, 20, was handed 32 driving-related charges before being refused bail by the ACT Magistrates Court on Friday (24 January).
An ACT Policing spokesperson alleged a man was seen riding a motorbike with a passenger and driving through a red light at the intersection of Soward Way and Anketell Street in Greenway at around 5 pm on 22 January.
Later that evening, police were near a playground in Greenway when they spotted a motorbike and two people who matched the description from the above incident.
While police directed the rider to stop, he allegedly drove off and was last seen swerving through grassland and riding close to members of the public.
Shortly afterwards, police again directed the rider to stop at the intersection of Drakeford Drive and Mortimer Lewis Drive, but he allegedly rode onto a green belt, under an underpass towards Oxley and onto a footpath.
“At this time, police stopped following the motorbike due to risks to the rider’s and public’s safety,” the police spokesperson said.
Then, at about 4 pm on 23 January, police in Greenway saw a motorbike with no registration plates allegedly being ridden by the same rider from the previous incidents.
The rider allegedly sped from police towards Oxley, where he was once again seen riding over a greenbelt.
Police allege that over the next half an hour, police tried to engage with the rider, during which he was seen driving across a double unbroken line, across dividing strips and along footpaths. The officers then lost sight of him due to his manner of driving.
Mr Welsh, who was a suspended driver, was met by police outside a home in Wanniassa at about 5:30 pm that afternoon.
He allegedly returned a positive result to a roadside alcohol screening test, and then a later breath analysis test recorded a blood alcohol concentration of 0.098.
Mr Welsh, a thin young man with a double rats’ tail haircut, applied for bail in the Magistrates Court on Friday, which was opposed by the prosecution.
Magistrate Jane Campbell said he had originally been arrested on 28 December 2024 for alleged driving offences, including level three drink driving and improper use of a motor vehicle.
He was then granted bail on conditions that included he not drive a vehicle.
However, the magistrate said this was followed by the allegations from 22 and 23 January 2025, during which he allegedly rode a motorbike in circles around police while they tried to stop him.
“I have absolutely no confidence that he will comply with any bail conditions,” Magistrate Campbell said.
Bail was refused and the matter was adjourned to 13 February.
Mr Welsh’s charges include two counts of reckless driving, level three drink driving, three counts of driving while suspended, three counts of failing to stop for police, three counts of driving on a path, three counts of using an unregistered vehicle and three counts of using an uninsured vehicle.
He has not entered pleas.
