Toowoomba tradie speeds and swerves to avoid police, endangering lives

‘I want to be able to grow up and tell my kids I didn’t go to jail’: Young man slammed with harsh penalty for motorway chase.

The threat of prison loomed large over a young Toowoomba chippie who pleaded guilty to leading police on a dangerous car chase along the Ipswich Motorway at Richlands Magistrates Court this week.

The court heard Nathanael Michael Willadsen was driving with his girlfriend through a 100km/hr zone in Wacol at around 4am on May 4, when a police radar observed the car was travelling well above the limit at 139km/hr.

The wild ride landed Nathanael Willadsen before the Richlands Magistrate Court where he was threatened with prison time.

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Police officers pulled in behind Willadsen, activating their lights and sirens, and for a while Willadsen looked as though he might pull over.

But he didn’t.

Willadsen continued to the Centenary Motorway entrance where he sped through roadworks at double the 40km/hr speed limit.

Police prosecutor senior constable Noel Pedersen told the court Willadsen then made a “sudden, deliberate turn” to exit at the Sumner Park off ramp, where he “lurched violently into a sign, narrowly missing roadworks and safety bollards”.

“He (was travelling) still at speed, putting himself and others at risk of injury,” Cst Pedersen said.

Nathanael Willadsen was in the car with his girlfriend when he sped through roadworks and swerved onto an off ramp to avoid police.

“It is believed (Willadsen) was deliberately driving to avoid police.”

It was there the police car stopped following Willadsen, but officers soon caught up with him over the phone.

Willadsen initially refused to own up to the crime, claiming his car had been stolen.

The court heard the CCTV footage did not support Willadsen’s version of events.

Willadsen told the court that the stress of starting up a new business was to blame for his behaviour, which was a “massive regret” and a “huge insult to (his) family and how they raised (him)”.

The apprentice chippie pleaded guilty to four charges of speeding, driving without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road, failure to stop as directed by a police officer, and driving after his (previously imposed) curfew without an exemption.

The minimum sentence for police evasion is 50 days in jail or a $5000 fine, and Willadsen pleaded with Magistrate Stuart Shearer to slap him with the latter.

Nathanael Willadsen was found guilty of four charges at the Richlands Magistrates Court this week.

“I want to be able to grow up and tell my kids I didn’t go to jail,” Willadsen said.

“I’ve done a lot of growing up in the past month and I definitely won’t be doing that again.”

Magistrate Shearer said Willadsen had put everyone involved at risk of injury or death, including his girlfriend, and told him he needed to wake up to himself.

Willadsen was convicted, fined $8500 and disqualified from driving for two years.

Originally published as Toowoomba tradie speeds and swerves to avoid police, endangering lives