Dylan Steven Willson charged with police pursuit at Ballina court
A Mitsubishi Triton snatched while the driver checked a crab pot was at the centre of a wild police pursuit around Ballina - forcing other motorists to swerve to avoid a crash.
Police & Courts
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A Mitsubishi Triton snatched while the driver checked a crab pot was at the centre of a wild police pursuit around Ballina.
Court documents state Dylan Steven Willson took the 4WD and was spotted on Wardell Rd, at Alstonville and on the Bruxner and Pacific highways - forcing motorists to take evasive action to avoid a crash.
Willson, 30, appeared at Ballina court via audio visual link where he pleaded guilty on Friday to stealing a car, driving during a disqualification period, police pursuit, dangerous driving, speeding and possessing drugs.
Police facts state the victim left his Triton unlocked with the keys inside on South Ballina Rd at 6am on February 2 when he walked to the river to check a crab pot.
Three men walked toward the vehicle, with Willson driving off in it, leaving his co-accused at the scene, according to court documents.
The victim returned and asked the men who had stolen his car.
“We don’t know him, he was just walking with us,” one of the men replied, police facts state.
A short time later Willson returned in the Triton and “drove towards the victim at high speed, forcing him to dive out of the way”, before both co-accused hopped into the car and headed away, police state.
The victim used another car to follow Willson while he was on the phone to police.
The stolen car was seen on Wardell Rd driving erratically - crossing to the wrong side of the road, forcing oncoming traffic to veer to avoid a collision, the court heard.
Police activated their warning lights and sirens when they saw the Triton at Alstonville.
Willson accelerated and drove 100km per hour in a 50km per hour zone, refusing to pull over.
“He sped in the vicinity of pedestrians and failed to stop at a stop sign, narrowly avoiding a collision,” police facts state.
Willson then travelled onto the Bruxner Highway, occasionally crossing onto the wrong side of the road, again forcing oncoming traffic to take “evasive actions”.
When Willson turned onto the Pacific Motorway and continuously wove in and out of traffic on the wrong side of the road, the pursuit was terminated due to safety concerns.
At McAndrews overpass at Pimlico, Willson crashed - sending the 4WD rolling down an embankment on McAndrews Lane.
The three men ran from the car but were found by police and taken into custody.
Police found a black bag on Willson which contained 86g of marijuana, steroid vials containing testosterone, and 7g of a crystal-like substance.
Willson was taken to Lismore Base Hospital for treatment of injuries he sustained in the crash.
Magistrate Karen Stafford refused Willson bail and adjourned the case for sentencing to March 24.
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