Aaron Trent Bidgood faces Toowoomba Magistrates Court for evading police, possessing weapons

A 28-year-old Toowoomba man, who refused to stop for police and sped through a red light, was tracked by a police chopper to Wilsonton Heights where he was found on top of a roof.

A 28-year-old Toowoomba man who sped away from police, prompting a police helicopter search, has been released from custody after spending 54 days behind bars.

Aaron Trent Bidgood was instructed to pull over by police on Cumming St on April 13 but he instead sped away through a red traffic light, Toowoomba Magistrates Court was told.

Police refused to engage in a pursuit but a PolAir chopper soon tracked Bidgood to Wilsonton Heights where he was seen to jump from the car and run off, police prosecutor Sergeant Alister Windsor said.

He was found sitting on the roof of a nearby house from where he was talked down by police and taken into custody, the court was told.

Aaron Trent Bidgood was sentenced in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on June 6, 2023.

A search of the car he had been driving turned up a shortened category A firearm, a category R silencer, ammunition, a flick knife, some clip seals bags and a syringe, Sergeant Windsor said.

Bidgood was found to have been driving with meth in his system and his driver’s licence was disqualified at the time, he said.

Bidgood appeared via video link from Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre on Tuesday to plead guilty to eight offences including evading police, disqualified driving and possessing weapons.

His solicitor Claire Graham, of Skuse Graham Lawyers, told the court her client was still subject to a suspended sentence imposed by the Brisbane Supreme Court in November 2022.

Bidgood had been a long-term drug user arising from post traumatic stress disorder which dated from his childhood, however, since being in custody he had been on the suboxone program to get clean, she said.

The 28-year-old had been diagnosed with cancer and he had undergone chemotherapy while in custody but had been doing voluntary work in the prison, Ms Graham said.

Magistrate Kyna Morice said Bidgood had “an unenviable” 11-page criminal history for which he had served various stints in jail.

Ms Morice sentenced Bidgood to six months in jail but, declaring the 54 days of pre-sentence custody as time served, ordered he be released immediately on parole.

Bidgood was disqualified from driving for two years each on the disqualified driving offence and evade police charge.

Ms Morice committed Bidgood back to the Supreme Court on the breach of suspended sentence.

Originally published as Aaron Trent Bidgood faces Toowoomba Magistrates Court for evading police, possessing weapons