Winona Welsh on driving charges at Coffs court after police pursuit

A cat and mouse police chase with officers pursuing two cars has ended in court - and a string of charges.

A Coffs Harbour woman has avoided a custodial sentence after a police pursuit ended with officers approaching her vehicle with pistols drawn.

Winona Welsh, 29, appeared at Coffs Local Court on Tuesday (August 30) having pleaded guilty to police pursuit – did not stop, possess prohibited drug, drive conveyance taken without consent of owner and drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous.

She also pleaded guilty to unlawfully possess thing resembles number plate / and use class A vehicle with unauthorised number plate affixed

The court heard police saw Welsh’s Landcruiser parked in the middle of a road at Emerald Beach at about 3.25pm on August 9, 2021.

As they approached, Welsh drove away - erratically and swerving, according to court documents.

Moments later, Welsh pulled up alongside a second car – and this other vehicle attempted to block police by “manoeuvring itself between the police vehicle and Welsh”, according to court documents.

Welsh and the other driver were seen to speak briefly from their individual cars at a cul-de-sac where officers were positioned, police facts stated.

Winona Welsh leaving Coffs Harbour Local Court after pleading guilty to charges relating to a police chase.

Officers attempted to block her path, but Welsh drove “at speed” into a police car, dislodging its front bumper, according to police facts.

Police initiated a pursuit of both vehicles, arresting the driver of the second car, where they allegedly found a loaded double-barrel shotgun on the back seat.

Shortly after, officers sighted Welsh’s car, and she stalled the Toyota.

As officers approached on foot, Welsh was seen to reach toward the front passenger footwell, police facts stated.

Fearing she might be reaching for a weapon, officers drew their service pistols and yelled at her to raise her hands – which she did, according to court documents.

She was arrested but then seen to throw two small bags away, which were seized by officers and found to hold 2.5 grams of meth, police facts stated.

Inspections revealed the number plates attached to the Landcruiser were cloned, stolen from Moonbi in July last year.

Welsh was refused bail at the time and spent a month-and-a-half in custody.

Magistrate Ian Rodgers described the incident as “clearly very serious”, but noted Welsh had engaged with a psychiatrist, GP and been abstinent from drugs.

The court heard Welsh had a limited criminal history but Mr Rodgers noted some previous weapon and drug charges were “of concern”.

“She’s had a substantial problem with meth, but she’s still young,” Mr Rodgers said.

Welsh was sentenced to a 15-month intensive community corrections order, disqualified from driving for 12 months for the driving offences, and convicted with no penalty on the drug charge.