Veronica Stibbards, 35, cops huge fine after evading police patrolling a rural road

Veronica Stibbards endangered the lives of other road users when she evaded police who tried to intercept her on a rural road. Read more here:

A woman who drove at police on a rural road in an effort to evade them appeared in Gladstone Magistrates Court on Friday.

Veronica Stibbards, 35, pleaded guilty to numerous offences including evade police before Acting Magistrate Ron Muirhead.

Prosecutor Senior Sergeant Tania Griffiths told the court that on May 24, around 10am, police re-attended a Flora Drive address in Beecher having just been evaded five minutes prior.

As police started turning into the address’ driveway, a black Holden Commodore with no license plates came speeding at their vehicle head on.

Police took evasive manoeuvres and the Commodore turned at the last minute, almost colliding with the left-hand side of the police car before exiting the driveway onto Flora Drive.

Police conducted a U-turn and activated lights and sirens which did not deter Stibbards, who they had identified as the driver.

Stibbards turned left onto the Dawson Highway and drove off at speed before police terminated their pursuit.

Ms Griffiths said Stibbards had endangered the lives of other road users including the police officers who pursued her due to her actions.

Stibbards’ lawyer Rio Ramos said her client should be spared a substantial family, related to a jail sentence, due to her limited criminal history.

Mr Muirhead convicted and fined Stibbards $7000 and suspended from driving for two years for the evasion offence. Further fines equated to $200 and convictions were recorded.