Diversionary help given to driver who ran down police officer after high speed chase

Police called off the dangerous pursuit at South Lismore, but two hours later they were called to a remote farm where the man had abandoned a woman after threatening her with a broken bottle.

The man had been seen driving at 45km/hr more than the speed limit by police before the pursuit was called off in South Lismore.

A court matter for a man who attempted to run down a police officer and assaulted a woman with a broken bottle has been held back as the accused seeks rehabilitation help.

Ulli Jansen’s matter was heard on Wednesday, June 30 before Lismore Local Court.

He has pleaded guilty to a string of offences in March, including a police pursuit, excessive speeding more than 45km/hr more than the limit, driving furiously and causing bodily harm, driving while disqualified, resisting arrest, attempting to stalk with the intention of causing fear of harm, possessing a knife, reckless driving and possessing a prescribed restricted substance.

According to court documents, police were patrolling at South Lismore about 2am on September 21, 2020, when they detected a black utility with incorrect registration plates.

The driver, Jansen, failed to stop, and a pursuit was initiated but terminated a short time later.

About 4am, police then attended a property at Bottle Creek to assist a 43-year-old woman who had been located by a farmer.

Officers were told the woman was a passenger in the black ute and shortly after the pursuit, she had a verbal argument with Jansen – who was known to her – before he stopped the car and they got out.

Court documents state Jansen threatened the woman with a broken glass bottle, injuring her neck, before stealing her purse and abandoning her on the side of the road.

Following inquiries, police located the black ute on Union Street, South Lismore, about 6pm the same day where they approached the vehicle.

The court documents also said a senior constable then opened the driver’s door before Jansen reversed at speed, striking the officer with the door, knocking him a short distance.

He then rammed a fully marked police car, causing front-end damage, before another officer was able to remove him from the vehicle and place him under arrest.

The senior constable who was struck by the door suffered minor injuries to both arms.

During his Wednesday mention, Jansen’s solicitor Rachael Thomas said he was currently at Balund-a, a diversionary program in Tabulam.

She said he was not due to complete his time there until December, but that the Director of Public Prosecutions was seeking a further mention date in between then, prior to sentence.

The DPP prosecutor agreed and asked for a Balund-a compliance check in on October 13.

Magistrate Jeff Linden agreed, saying that Jansen could be excused if still at the program.

The matter was adjourned for October 13.