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A Warrnambool man was on bail for serious driving offences when he fled police on an unregistered motorbike and without a licence early on Friday, a court was told.
Robert Phillip Chatfield, 28, of McGregors Road, appeared in Warrnambool Magistrates Court charged with possessing ice, evading police, committing an indictable offence while on bail and driving-related offences.
Police alleged the accused was seen speeding on Warrnambool’s Daltons Road about 3am on Friday.
Officers a few minutes later attempted to intercept him on Coulstock Street but he continued to ride through an oval and then paddocks at Warrnambool’s Albert Park.
Mr Chatfield crashed into a pony club log obstacle, causing him to fall off the bike. He removed his helmet and fled on foot.
Police said he threw a mobile phone on the ground as well as an orange fluorescent jacket he was wearing.
Mr Chatfield ran for several minutes before eventually slowing down, resulting in officers catching up to him. He was told to get on the ground five times, but he refused and was capsicum sprayed in the face. He was found in possession of what police alleged was 2.6 grams of ice and was arrested.
At the time, Mr Chatfield was unlicensed and riding an unregistered bike, which was impounded, police said.
He was also on bail for serious driving offences.
Mr Chatfield then made an unsuccessful, self-represented bail application.
Magistrate John Lesser said Mr Chatfield was an unacceptable risk of re-offending and that his behaviour had placed the community in danger. He revoked the accused’s previous bail and remanded him in custody until January.
Earlier, 8am:
A Warrnambool motorcyclist caught with ice after fleeing police was capsicum sprayed and arrested overnight.
Warrnambool police Sergeant Dave McDonald said the 28-year-old was spotted speeding on Warrnambool’s Daltons Road about 3am.
He said police lost sight of the man, who was later seen on Coulstock Street.
“Police attempted to intercept the bike, which traveled through a football oval and then paddocks,” Sergeant McDonald said.
“It’s gone through the pony club and hit a log, causing the rider to come off the bike. He wasn’t injured and he has attempted to flee on foot.
“Officers caught up with him and OC foamed him. He was found in possession of 2.6 grams of ice and was subsequently arrested.”
The man, who was unlicensed and riding an unregistered motorbike, had his bike impounded at a cost of more than $1000.
He will appear in Warrnambool Magistrates Court on Friday charged with possessing ice, evading police and driving-related offences.
Meanwhile, a 19-year-old Warrnambool woman was arrested overnight after allegedly breaching a community corrections order.
Sergeant McDonald said the woman was arrested walking in Warrnambool at 12.20am on Friday.
She will appear in Warrnambool Magistrates Court charged with shop theft and breaching a community corrections order.
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