Thomas Weldon jailed for five months for leading police on wild chase

A rapist, who led police on a wild car chase through the streets of Geelong, tried to evade officers on numerous occasions.

Thomas Weldon was jailed for five months. Picture taken in 2011.

A rapist with a history of violent crimes led police on a dangerous and chaotic car chase through the streets of Geelong, repeatedly attempting to evade capture.

Thomas Weldon pleaded guilty in the Geelong Magistrates Court on Thursday to charges including failing to stop on police direction and unlicensed driving, and was sentenced to five months in jail.

Weldon, 31, of no fixed address, was driving a Holden Commodore in Geelong West on April 20 last year.

Police Prosecutor Senior Constable Kerrie-Ann Moroney said police were following Weldon and activated their sirens to pull him over but Weldon kept on driving.

The court heard Weldon ran through a red light at the intersection of La Trobe Terrace and Gordon Ave before police lost sight of the car.

Constable Moroney said police later sighted the car in a carport in North Geelong and witnessed Weldon jumping the back fence and throwing his wallet on the ground.

The court heard the wallet contained drugs, including methamphetamine.

Police arrested Weldon on the same day but he could not be interviewed because he was erratic and violent.

On May 15 last year, Weldon was at an address in Corio with another co-accused, which contravened a condition of bail.

When police came knocking, Weldon left the property through a window and jumped over several fences to escape officers.

On May 22 last year, Weldon was observed by police driving a car that had been stolen in a carjacking on May 1 in Ascot Vale.

The court heard police pursued Weldon but he escaped them.

Weldon was arrested at a property in Brighton later that day and was remanded in custody.

Weldon’s lawyer, Michelle Lester, said her client had a number of intellectual difficulties and had spent a significant time of his 388 days in custody in isolation.

Magistrate Ann McGarvie said Weldon’s behaviour was “dangerous offending,” which involved driving on the wrong side of the road, going through red lights, and evading police.

Ms McGarvie jailed Weldon for 150 days and disqualified him from driving for 18 months. He will face court next month for a contested hearing on more serious charges.

In 2011, he was sentenced to six years in jail for punching a woman in the face before sexually assaulting her.

Originally published as Thomas Weldon jailed for five months for leading police on wild chase