A teenager who was tracked by police helicopter in an allegedly stolen vehicle on Sunday, February 16, has also been charged over the alleged theft of three other vehicles only days earlier.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
He was also on bail at the time for the alleged theft of a further five vehicles, driving charges and other alleged offences.
Lennie Hayes-Green, 19, of Mooroopna unsuccessfully applied for bail in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court.
He is charged with four counts of theft of a vehicle, three counts of failing to stop on police direction, four counts of driving in a dangerous manner, two of driving while disqualified, reckless conduct endangering life and two counts of drug driving.
He is also charged with assault with a weapon, burglary, five counts of theft, intentionally destroying property and committing a schedule two offence while on bail.
Shepparton Crime Investigation Unit’s Detective Senior Constable Begbie told the court of a series of alleged offences between February 11 and 16.
Mr Hayes-Green allegedly stole items from two vehicles in Cobram on February 11, including a $30,000 diamond ring.
On both occasions, Mr Hayes-Green was seen walking away from an allegedly stolen Kia Sorrento.
Three days later, on February 14, Mr Hayes-Green allegedly drove off fast and on the wrong side of the Goulburn Valley Hwy at Kialla when police tried to pull him over in an allegedly stolen Toyota Aurion.
The following evening, police allege Mr Hayes-Green stole an electric scooter and beer from a Shepparton North house, and then allegedly swung a metal pole at the owner after he chased him.
Later that day, he allegedly stole a BMW while the owner was at an ATM in Wyndham St.
The owner jumped on the bonnet of the car as it drove away, before being forced off it and on to the road.
Early the next day — February 16 — Mr Hayes-Green allegedly stole a Toyota HiLux and Yamaha motorcycle that was in the rear tray, from a home in Shepparton, and then drove at the owner who tried to stop him.
Almost six hours later, Mr Hayes-Green was present when the Aurion was allegedly set on fire in bush off Rudd Rd, Det Sen Constable Begbie said.
At noon the same day, Mr Hayes-Green allegedly sped away from police who tried to stop him on the Goulburn Valley Hwy at Kialla.
Shortly after 2.30pm, with the police helicopter tracking it, the ute ran over stop sticks put down by police on Watt Rd bridge at Mooroopna, before allegedly running red lights in Mooroopna.
The vehicle stopped 3km later and Mr Hayes-Green was found in the roof cavity of a house.
The court was also told about several outstanding incidents Mr Hayes-Green was already on bail for.
These included allegedly stealing from houses, cars and businesses in Kialla, Stanhope, Shepparton and Mooroopna between February 25 last year and January 7 this year.
Among items stolen from cars was a CFA 25-year medal.
Police also allege he stole a Ford Focus from Shepparton North on November 6 last year.
He also allegedly failed to stop while driving a stolen Volkswagen Golf twice in Shepparton and Mooroopna the same day, instead driving off on police at 100km/h in a residential street on one of the occasions.
He also allegedly stole a Mitsubishi Mirage from Shepparton on November 16, before driving off on police that night when they tried to stop him — driving through the parking lane at the Victoria Park Lake and running a red light.
In yet another incident, he allegedly threatened a woman and a man at a service station in Mooroopna, hitting their car several times with a machete and stealing an e-scooter.
On January 6, police allege he stole a Nissan Pulsar from Mooroopna and failed to stop after he collided with a ute in Mooroopna.
Mr Hayes-Green’s defence solicitor Ian Michaelson asked for bail for his client, saying he was young, a First Nations person, had an intellectual disability, and said he would be able to take part in the Court Integrated Services Program if bailed.
However, magistrate Simon Zebrowski said Mr Hayes-Green was too much of a risk to the community to bail.
He referred to a large list of convictions for committing indictable offences while on bail, as well as a huge number of theft of vehicles.
Mr Zebrowski said Mr Hayes-Green also had a history of not stopping in police chases and prior convictions for dangerous driving, doesn’t have a driver’s licence, drives on the wrong side of the road and commits aggravated burglaries.
“He’s a ticking time bomb,” Mr Zebrowski said.
“He’s clearly driving in a manner dangerous and putting people at risk.
“I can’t see myself clear to release him unless something’s in place to protect the community.”
Mr Hayes-Green will next appear in court in mid-March.