Jack Mason, 23, from Mooroopna, successfully applied for bail in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court.
He is charged with dangerous driving while pursued by police, failing to stop on police direction, driving while suspended, committing an indictable offence while on bail, contravening a bail condition, dealing with property suspected to be the proceeds of crime, and drug driving.
Prosecutor Senior Constable Luke Lund told the court Mr Mason drove off on police when they tried to pull him over in Norfolk Crt in Shepparton at 11.15pm on Saturday, October 7.
Police allege Mr Mason accelerated heavily away from them in Archer St, including turning his headlights off and driving on the wrong side of the road.
The court heard the police vehicle following him dropped off, and the Police Air Wing kept following Mr Mason from the air.
Sen Constable Lund said Mr Mason drove at what police allege was 150 to 160km/h on Doyles Rd before eventually stopping on Violet Town Boundary Rd at Kialla East, running into a paddock and hiding in the grass.
The court was told that when Mr Mason was arrested, $550 in cash was found on him.
Police allege he was also drug driving and driving on a suspended licence.
When interviewed by police, Mr Mason told them “he was scared because he was outside during his curfew” on another matter he had been bailed on.
He also told them he did not know his driver’s licence was suspended because “the dog ate the letterbox” and that the $550 was rent for his mother, whom he was living with.
Sen Constable Lund said Mr Mason refused to give police the pin code to his phone, but while he was at the police station that night, “numerous calls and texts came from known drug dealers”.
The court was told Mr Mason had only been on bail for six weeks after a small zip-lock bag with methamphetamines and empty deal bags were found in the car he was driving when stopped by police in August.
Sen Constable Lund said Mr Mason argued about the passenger in the car being searched, and when she was, police found her with a wallet, methamphetamines, an ice pipe and scales under her jumper.
A firearm magazine and ammunition were also found in the car’s door.
Sen Constable Lund opposed bail, saying Mr Mason “chose to engage in serious and dangerous behaviour” on October 7.
Mason’s solicitor Ian Michaelson told the court being kept on remand since October 7 had been “a big eye opener” for his client.
“He’s got no criminal history, and this is his first time in custody,” Mr Michaelson said.
He also said he could do the Court Integrated Services Program while on bail and had good family support.
Mr Michaelson also said Mr Mason was in the range of a community corrections order if found guilty of the charges.
Magistrate David Faram granted bail, agreeing Mr Mason would likely be sentenced to a community corrections order if found guilty.
His bail conditions include that he report to police twice a week, comply with Court Integrated Services Program requirements, not leave Victoria, not use drugs and abide by a 10pm to 6am curfew.
Mr Mason will next face the court in November.
