Ipswich’s Owen John Charles Scafe charged with 30 offences

A drug-addicted Ipswich dad allegedly committed five burglaries and attempted to ram a cop car during a wild spree.

POLICE claim they had to react quickly to avoid a collision on a bush track when an Ipswich man behind the wheel of a ute is alleged to have suddenly reversed toward them in a desperate bid for freedom.

Woodridge man Owen John Charles Scafe, 28, has been charged with more than 30 offences and made a bail application in Ipswich Magistrates Court on Thursday.

His charges include, most seriously, five counts of burglary, two counts of stealing a motor vehicle, five counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and evading police.

The court heard the dangerous driving and evading police occurred about 4.40am on June 7 this year.

Woodridge man Own John Charles Scafe, 28, has been refused bail on 30 charges. Picture: File

Police prosecutor Sergeant Trent Voigt said it was alleged Mr Scafe drove with no headlights in the darkness on dirt roads.

Sgt Voigt alleged Mr Scafe’s Nissan Navara was first sighted at 4.40am on Fernvale Rd at Brassall towing a suspect vehicle on its trailer.

After fleeing police, Mr Scafe allegedly avoided tyre deflation devices before driving down a dirt road with no headlights.

When boxed in on the track, Mr Scafe allegedly tried to escape interception by reversing suddenly towards a police vehicle, forcing officers to take urgent evasive action.

Mr Scafe was allegedly later detected by the police dog squad hiding with a female companion in long grass near the dumped vehicles.

Sgt Voigt said the reversing manoeuvre was likely a ploy to activate the airbags of the police vehicle so that the driver could get away.

“There was no way he was going to escape the police,” Sgt Voigt said.

“It is indicative of his attitude to disregard the orders of the court.”

Sgt Voigt said police held concerns that Scafe would offend and not attend court if granted bail.

Defence lawyer Ms Dylan said Mr Scafe had been remanded in pre-sentence custody since his arrest on June 7.

Ms Dylan told the court Mr Scafe was a father-of-one child and his former partner was again pregnant and he wanted to assist her by taking on more of their shared custody.

Mr Scafe was also willing to wear an ankle monitor, the court was told.

“It is evident that he has had a serious drug addiction for some time,” she said.

“He has managed to stay clean (in jail) and realises the error of his ways.

“He will live with his mother and is attempting to obtain in-house rehabilitation.”

She said Mr Scafe at this stage intends to contest six of the charges.

Magistrate Dennis Kinsella found him to be an unacceptable risk of reoffending or failing to appear and bail was refused.

His charges will next be mentioned on October 7.