19-year-old Lakiesha Gigiba makes bail bid after being arrested during wild Cairns stolen car police chase

A 19-year-old Edmonton woman who was already on bail when she and three other teens were allegedly involved in a wild stolen car police chase around Cairns has made a bid for bail.

A 19-year-old Edmonton woman – the oldest of four teenage girls who allegedly rammed three police cars with a stolen car in a dramatic chase on Thursday night – has had her bail application decided in the Cairns Magistrates Court.

The chase was the culmination of a series of crimes allegedly committed by the four over the past two weeks.

Lakiesha Gigiba, 19, was taken into custody last night along with three 16-year-old girls who police allege were involved in a police chase after they allegedly stole a car from a Yungaburra address on Wednesday evening.

The court heard that police pursued the teenagers in the stolen car, and a chase ensued on the evening of August 17 where civilian vehicles and three police vehicles were damaged.

Police successfully used a tyre deflation device in Woree at approximately 6.30pm on Thursday, leading to the car being abandoned in Westcourt a short time later.

The court heard the girls then dashed from the abandoned car to avoid being arrested.

Two were caught hiding in nearby bushland and police caught the other two a short distance away.

Throughout the week, police said the teens had allegedly been involved in several incidents, which allegedly included kicking down the front door of a house with intent to commit a robbery.

Police had already arrested the four involved for a number of alleged offences from the preceding week.

In the Cairns Magistrates Court on Friday afternoon, the police prosecutor told the court it was not Ms Gigiba but one of the 16-year-olds who had been driving the car.

The three 16-year-olds were charged with offences related to unlawful use of motor vehicle, with a 16-year-old from Manoora charged with one count each of enter dwelling, stealing, receiving tainted property, and possess dangerous drugs.

A 16-year-old Edmonton girl was further charged with stealing and a 16-year-old Hermit Park received further charges.

Ms Gigiba was charged with seven offences including three counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and one count of possessing dangerous drugs.

Two teenagers are arrested by the Cairns Police dog squad after a wild alleged police chase on Thursday night.

She watched from the dock with little expression as her application for bail was decided in court on Friday.

In deciding her application, Magistrate Michael Dalton noted that Ms Gigiba was already on bail for offending behaviour when she was part of the cohort who stole the car on Wednesday night.

Her lawyer said Ms Gigiba had indicated her intention to plead guilty.

She asked the court for her client to be bailed with a curfew and argued that while her client “was at risk of a prison sentence but give her lack of criminal history I would submit that a suspended sentence or intensive corrections order is most likely.”

“I am not so sure about that,” Mr Dalton said.

“This is pretty serious staff. Stealing a car while already on bail. I have concerns about the client committing more offences and a curfew won’t fix that. She has shown a lack of regard and respect for authorities.

“She is at an unacceptable risk of reoffending; within 48 hours of offending, she reoffended with the car chase, bail is refused.”

Ms Gigiba’s was remanded in custody and matter will return to court via video link on September 26 2023.

On Thursday night, Cairns residents reported “scary” scenes as they watched police cars chase stolen vehicles that had been driven recklessly on the wrong side of the Bruce Hwy on Thursday night.

According to reports, dangerous drivers rammed a police car in Mooroobool about 6.50pm and slammed into a private vehicle in Westcourt a mere ten minutes later.

The Rescue 510 helicopter looped around Cairns between 5.26pm and 6.53pm; it appeared to be tracking vehicles in Cairns North, Parramatta Park, Westcourt, Woree and Edmonton.

A silver sedan was damaged when it was struck by another vehicle during a chaotic police chase, according to witnesses. Picture: Facebook

Several residents posted on Facebook about an orange ute driving on the wrong side of the Bruce Hwy near Mt Sheridan about 6.45pm.

Others saw several police cars and the helicopter chasing a vehicle on Tills St in Westcourt.

“Sounded like a war zone,” one Facebook commentator said.

“I was at spotlight about 6.15pm, counted 11 police cars chasing a car while the rescue helicopter was circling around … (the car) clipped another car on Mulgrave Rd with debris still on the road after the event. Complete chaos it seemed to me,” another witness said.

After a short foot pursuit, police officers arrested four females, including three teenagers, after they abandoned a vehicle on Mann St in Westcourt.

The Rescue 510 helicopter pursued vehicles in numerous Cairns suburbs. Picture: FlightAware

“(A police dog) and his handler were able to track the alleged offenders from the abandoned vehicle and two people were located and arrested after hiding in nearby bushland,” a police spokesman said.

“It will be alleged that the vehicle involved had been stolen the evening before, August 16, from a Yungaburra address.

“It will be further alleged the vehicle had been involved in multiple collisions on the evening of August 17, with several members of the public’s vehicles as well as three police vehicles damaged.

“The vehicle was subject to a successful deployment of a tyre deflation device in Woree at approximately 6.30pm on August 17, before being abandoned in Westcourt a short time later.”

A police spokesman confirmed an orange Holden Colorado was definitely involved in the incident.

“We think that’s the main vehicle at the moment,” he said.

An orange Holden Colorado was the main vehicle involved in the mayhem on August 17. Picture: Facebook

Police charged a 19-year-old Edmonton woman with seven offences including three counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and one count of possessing dangerous drugs.

She appeared before Cairns Magistrates Court on Friday, August 18.

Police also charged three 16-year-old girls – from Manoora, Edmonton and Hermit Park – with a total of 18 offences.

The 16-year-old Hermit Park girl was charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle and driving under the influence of alcohol.

All three girls appeared before Cairns Childrens Court on Friday, August 18.

There have been 565 stolen cars in the Far North in 2023.

Originally published as 19-year-old Lakiesha Gigiba makes bail bid after being arrested during wild Cairns stolen car police chase