West Ballina man Kenneth Pitt accused of two-hour car chase to head to trial
Police will allege the man stole two cars and drove in an erratic and dangerous manner for two hours through Ballina, Alstonville, Goonellabah and Lismore.
Police & Courts
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A West Ballina man accused of leading police on a dangerous pursuit through several Northern Rivers towns will soon head to District Court trial.
Kenneth Pitt fronted Lismore Local Court on Wednesday, July 14, via video link from Long Bay Hospital.
He is charged with 15 offences, driving dangerously during a police pursuit and aggravated robbery using corporal violence,
Police will allege they were alerted a white Mitsubishi Mirage was stolen near a Kerr St, Ballina shopping centre about 10.15am on January 15, 2021.
Officers found the vehicle and began a pursuit, but this was terminated shortly afterwards due to alleged dangerous driving.
Mr Pitt allegedly abandoned the car and then tried to carjack another vehicle about 10 minutes later, before stealing a nearby Kia Rio.
It will be alleged Mr Pitt drove in an erratic and dangerous manner for two hours through Ballina, Alstonville, Goonellabah and Lismore.
At times, he was alleged to have crossed to the wrong side of the road and onto a footpath toward pedestrians.
Police said the Kia was involved in multiple minor collisions during the string of pursuits.
Police deployed road spikes and they said the Kia was found crashed and abandoned on Ravenswood Drive, Goonellabah.
Mr Pitt was arrested a short time later in Bellara Court.
On Wednesday, solicitor Hannah Donaldson said in the absence of a case conference, Mr Pitt could be committed to a District Court trial.
“Fitness is an issue,” she noted.
The Court heard the aggravated driving of a motor vehicle with a person in/on it inflicting actual bodily harm, two counts of not stopping and driving dangerously during a police pursuit, aggravated robbery using corporal violence, and aggravated entry of a dwelling with intent to inflict actual bodily harm will head to Lismore District Court in the form of a trial.
The 10 other charges will be classified as backup charges and will advance on a 166 certificate.
Magistrate Jeff Linden adjourned the matter until August 30 for arraignment in Lismore District Court.
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