Rooty Hill stolen car chase: Alleged driver, passengers plead not guilty

The accused driver of a luxury SUV, allegedly stolen from a western Sydney home before leading police on a wild chase, has pleaded not guilty.

A man accused of driving a stolen luxury SUV, which allegedly led police on a chase through western Sydney before crashing into a fence, has pleaded not guilty over his alleged involvement in the incident.

Two people said to have been passengers have also pleaded not guilty.

Hunter Finnigan, 20, is alleged to have been the driver of a black Range Rover SUV, which was allegedly stolen from Rooty Hill on August 30 before leading police on a chase through Bidwill early the next morning.

A stolen Range Rover Sport has sparked a multi-vehicle police pursuit through Rooty Hill and Doonside about 2am last Saturday. Picture: Facebook

The pursuit continued through Sydney’s west before the SUV crashed into a fence on Wilkie Crescent, Doonside.

Finnigan was charged with driving recklessly in a police pursuit, driving a stolen motor vehicle and driving without a licence, while one of his alleged passengers, 19-year-old Kurtis Smiley, was charged with being carried in a stolen motor vehicle.

Another alleged passenger, 30-year-old Maika Ufi, was taken to hospital for assessment after he and his co-accused were arrested, but has since been charged with being carried in a stolen motor vehicle.

A fourth alleged passenger, a 16-year-old boy, received a youth caution for being carried in a stolen motor vehicle.

Smiley and Finnigan were both scheduled to appear in Mount Druitt Local Court on Wednesday, while Ufi will next appear on October 16 after he was denied bail in an earlier court appearance.

PolAir was spotted by residents woken during the early morning pursuit. Picture: Facebook

Finnigan, who is in custody, did not physically appear in the courtroom for his brief mention on Thursday, but lawyer Georgina Melrose said her client was pleading not guilty to all three charges.

Smiley, the only one of the three co-accused to have been granted bail, also pleaded not guilty to his sole charge.

Ufi pleaded not guilty at an earlier date.

All three defendants are set to return to court on October 16.