Benjamin Freeman, 44, of Mooroopna, unsuccessfully applied for bail in the Shepparton Magistrates’ Court.
He is charged with dangerous driving while being pursued by police, theft of a vehicle, two counts of drug driving, possessing methamphetamines, dealing with property suspected to be the proceeds of crime, unlicensed driving and committing a schedule two offence while on bail.
Shepparton Crime Investigation Unit’s First Constable Amy Williams said a $180,000 Toyota LandCruiser was stolen from a Toolamba property at about 3.50am on December 16, 2024.
The court heard later that day, police saw the LandCruiser drive through a red light at the intersection of Wyndham and Vaughan Sts in Shepparton, before turning off towards Mooroopna, where police placed stop sticks on Elizabeth St.
The LandCruiser allegedly drove down McFarlane Rd, Mooroopna and into bushland near Reedy Swamp, before driving back out on to Cemetery Rd at 11.18am.
Two tyres were disabled with stop sticks deployed by police; however, Mr Freeman continued to drive and turned on to Echuca Rd, heading north, First Constable Williams said.
Police turned on their lights, but the LandCruiser turned on to Alexander Rd, where it drove into a table drain and rolled.
After being arrested, Mr Freeman allegedly tested positive for methamphetamines, and police seized a 2.97g bag of methamphetamines and $2100 cash.
First Constable Williams said Mr Freeman’s driving was “reckless and dangerous” because he was speeding, overtaking cars and driving on the wrong side of the road, forcing other people to pull over to avoid a collision.
Mr Freeman was on three counts of bail at the time of the crash.
He’s also facing charges of attempted burglary and criminal damage, stemming from him allegedly kicking and shattering the glass window of a Shepparton business on Purcell St on May 30, 2024.
The court heard Mr Freeman left a trail of blood after becoming injured, which was tested and identified as belonging to him, First Constable Williams said.
He is also facing other charges, including car theft, five counts of theft, burglary, trespassing and possessing methamphetamines, stemming from four incidents from February to October, 2024.
First Constable Williams said the proposed bail address wasn’t appropriate, as it was where he was living when his alleged offending occurred.
Prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Braden Wright said Mr Freeman had gotten out of prison in early 2024 after serving a nine-year Supreme Court sentence.
Mr Freeman’s barrister John Murphy said his client had “woken up to his problem with drugs”, and wasn’t thinking rationally when being pursued by police.
He told the court Mr Freeman may have been scared being pursued by an unmarked police car, and thought he was being followed by a youth gang based on reports at the time.
Mr Murphy told the court with the exception of the police chase, the alleged offences were low-level and didn’t involve violence.
In refusing Mr Freeman bail, Magistrate Simon Zebrowski said he had “hardly drew breath upon being released” from prison and was “straight back into consistent offending”.
“His period of time in custody didn’t do much for him,” he said.
Mr Freeman will next face Shepparton Magistrates’ Court later in January.
No pleas have been entered to any of the charges.
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