Steven John Fewquandie smashes stolen car around unit carpark trying to escape police

A Queensland man ping-ponged a stolen Toyota Corolla around a unit carpark trying to escape police custody, smashing into police and parked vehicles. Read how it all unfolded.

A tip-off to police about a stolen Toyota Corolla in an East Mackay unit carpark led to it smashing into police and parked vehicles in a desperate failed escape, a Mackay court has heard.

Steven John Fewquandie pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, burglary and attempted burglary in Mackay District Court this month.

Fewquandie was driving with a passenger on October 20, 2021, when police trapped him in an extended incident that ended with the Corolla being crashed into nearby bushland.

The 29-year-old man, who has an extensive criminal history, also robbed Mackay jewellery store Tick Tock Two while driving a stolen Mazda on September 30, just weeks after his release from prison on parole.

Crown prosecutor Michelle Parfitt said Fewquandie had been released from jail on parole for similar offending on August 16, 2021.

She told the court a police officer had parked Fewquandie and his alleged accomplice in at the East Mackay carpark.

Picture: Brendan Francis

“The officer exited the police car and the defendant drove forward and collided with the police vehicle,” she said.

“The officer ordered the defendant to stop, but he reversed the car into the rear wall of the carport.

“The defendant once again drove forward and collided with a parked car.

“He reversed again and collided with another (parked) vehicle).

“(Fewquandie) continued driving forwards and backwards in an attempt to escape the car park.”

The court heard this behaviour continued as police backup arrived on the scene, surrounding the Toyota and “hitting the windows of the car with their batons”.

Fewquandie somehow managed to exit the car park in the car only to crash into nearby bushland.

Ms Parfitt said Fewquandie continued to resist arrest, revving the engine of the battered vehicle before he was dragged out through a driver’s side window smashed by a police baton.

The prosecutor said police found a loaded .22 calibre bolt action rifle in the car that was also stolen.

Calibre bolt action .22 rifle

The court heard Fewquandie’s crime spree began on September 30, just 45 days after he got out of jail.

Judge Gregory Lynham heard Fewquandie was driven by an unknown co-offender in a stolen Mazda to a jewellery and gift store on Victoria Street.

“The offending at Tick Tock Two involved the defendant getting out of the Mazda and smashing the front window,” Ms Parfitt said.

“(Fewquandie) reached into the broken window and stole 14 watches with a value of $1,141.64.

“(But repairing) the damage to the window also caused (a $1,700) loss to the business.”

Tick Tock Two in Mackay.

The court heard Fewquandie and two others also attempted to break into an address on Binnington Esplanade on October 17, but left when the doors were locked.

Fewquandie spent 350 days in custody since his arrest near the carpark, time which Judge Lynham decided not to acknowledge as served on his sentence.

Judge Lynham chastised him on his dangerous conduct “ramming a police car and other cars in a vain and desperate attempt to escape police”.

For charges of dangerously operating a motor vehicle, burglary, and attempted burglary, Fewquandie received a head sentence of two and a half years imprisonment.

His parole date was set at February 17, 2023.