An unlicensed driver will face court today charged with 29 offences, following a police pursuit in the state’s Hunter Region.
About 6pm yesterday (Sunday 1 March 2020), officers from Hunter Valley Police District were patrolling on the New England Highway at Blanford, about 60km north of Muswellbrook, when they attempted to stop a Great Wall X240 utility.
When the utility failed to stop, a police pursuit was initiated. It was terminated a short time later due to safety concerns.
The vehicle was later located parked in a carpark in Little Street, Murrurundi, and the driver, a 27-year-old woman, was arrested nearby.
She allegedly refused to undergo a roadside breath test and was taken to Muswellbrook Police Station.
The woman was charged with 29 offences, including:
- four counts of dishonestly obtain property by deception,
- five counts of use unregistrable motor vehicle on road,
- five counts of use uninsured motor vehicle,
- five counts of licence expired 2 years or more before,
- two counts of use vehicle displaying misleading number plate,
- two counts of use vehicle displaying altered number plate,
- police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously,
- drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous,
- motor vehicle exceed speed > 30 km/h,
- overtake vehicle when unsafe,
- refuse or fail to submit to breath test, and
- goods in personal custody suspected of being stolen.
Police will allege in court that the woman, who is an unlicensed driver, had altered her number plates by attaching mailbox stickers, purchased from a hardware store.
The Broken Hill woman was refused bail to appear at Muswellbrook Local Court today (Monday 2 March 2020).
Investigations are continuing.