Ethan Farrell faces Lismore Local Court for Ballina Rd police pursuit

A young man led police on a 1.8km chase which ended when he hit two cars and ran from police – all within metres of elderly care home residents.

A teenager who crashed into two cars outside an aged care home had been out picking up milk for his kids before police attention caused him to panic, a court has heard.

Ethan Farrell, 19, was sentenced in Lismore Local Court on Monday for a break and enter in company, two counts of destroy/damage property, a dangerous police pursuit, unlicensed driving, drug possession and carrying a cutting weapon.

The court heard the offending dated back to February 9 in Farrell’s hometown of Nowra.

Farrell, with a co-accused, broke into what solicitor Belinda O’Dwyer said was the home of the local cannabis dealer at Culburra Beach.

According to court facts and CCTV footage, the pair rummaged through a back shed before heading inside.

There they stole 60 precious stones valued at $1000, a Samsung tablet, a wallet containing $250 cash, and various items of fishing equipment valued at $1000.

Ms O’Dwyer said Farrell was only looking for the cannabis and was not involved in the theft of precious stones.

Magistrate Jeff Linden acknowledged the items were returned but said that was “no consolation” for the man who had his home broken into.

At the time, police could not find Farrell and an arrest warrant was issued.

Farrell then moved to the Northern Rivers with an intention to start fresh with his two young children but continued breaking the law.

He had a fight with his ex-partner on July 2 about money, which her mother tried to break-up.

According to court facts, the woman’s mother threw a shoe at him when trying to kick him off the property before Farrell picked the shoe up and threw it back.

It didn’t hit the woman but instead smashed the glass front window.

He then threw a rock at the bootlid of her Mazda, causing a dent and paint scratches.

His past caught up to him when he became involved in a serious police pursuit on August 26.

Police were conducting patrols when they saw Farrell and decided to stop him for a random breath test on Sillar Ave about 1.1opm.

However, Farrell continued driving onto Ballina Rd and accelerated away from police, leading them on a 1.8km chase.

Farrell failed to give way when turning almost causing a crash, drove 30km/h over the 60 km/h speed limit and drove onto the incorrect side of the road, court facts stated.

His driving caused an oncoming vehicle to hit Farrell’s car and spin back onto the wrong side of the road, stopping metres out from another car.

Farrell then ran from the moving vehicle, which hit a parked car inside the Uniting Caroona Kalina Goonellabah aged care home.

According to court facts, there were also several elderly bystanders from the nursing home at the crash.

Farrell ran through several backyards across Jubilee Ave and Pleasant St before hiding under a Rouse Rd unit complex where police arrested him.

Ms O’Dwyer said her client had been out to get milk for his children and panicked.

She said he was still in the grips of substance abuse at the time.

“As a young man, only 19 years old, there are still hopes for his rehabilitation and his time in custody has obviously seen him abstinent from any drugs,” she said.

Mr Linden said the pursuit was “very serious” given the fact Farrell has never held a NSW licence.

He sentenced Farrell to 20 months in jail, backdated to September 26.

Farrell is eligible for parole from January 25, 2022.

Linden also disqualified Farrell from holding a driver’s licence for 12 months.

For the possess a prohibited drug and carrying a cutting weapon charges, Farrell was convicted but not further punished.