Retiree Robert John Fenton took police on high speed chase through Goulburn

A Goulburn retiree took police on a wild chase when he eschewed the roads and drove down a stairway instead.

In a move reminiscent of a Hollywood movie, a retired Goulburn man led the police on a high speed chase when he drove down a narrow stairway instead of the road.

Robert John Fenton, 69, appeared in Goulburn Local Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to driving recklessly and not stopping during a police pursuit.

The court heard police were going to check on the Goulburn resident at 11pm on January 27 after his family had raised concerns for his wellbeing. However, when police pulled up to Verner St in Goulburn to check on Fenton, he started up the car and sped off down the street.

Robert John Fenton was found guilty of reckless driving leading to a police pursuit in Goulburn.

The court heard police tried to stop Fenton with flashing lights and warning signals, but the retiree ignored them and increased his speed. Police gave chase as he sped through the residential streets of Goulburn, according to court documents.

The court heard Fenton borrowed a move from a Hollywood film when he ignored the bend in Church St and drove down a narrow stairway instead, crashing into the retaining wall of the Goulburn Council Chambers and local library.

Despite the damage, the court documents show Fenton carried on winding through the streets, driving at 75 km through a 50 km/hr zone. As the retiree sped out of town along Fitzroy Street, police state he sped up to 90 km in the 50 km/hr zone.

Magistrate Geraldine Beattie said the lack of respect for the signposted speeds was “alarming”.

“It’s almost twice the speed limit,” she said.

“For where you’re travelling, it’s high speeds.”

This map of downtown Goulburn shows the route Robert John Fenton took to evade police. Where the route disappears on Fitzroy St is where he was driving at 90kms/hr.

Police were forced to stop the pursuit when the conditions of the wet night deteriorated, according to court documents. The court heard they later received a tip-off the car had been abandoned at a local retirement village, with Fenton nowhere to be found.

When police next saw Fenton on March 5, court documents reveal he told police he had been driving and apologised for his actions.

“I was scared. I’m sorry I didn’t pull over,” he said.

Fenton’s lawyer Adam Booker told the court his client had been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and was clearly suffering from “grand delusions”.

“His mental health is a significant feature of the offending,” he said.

While Booker acknowledged the seriousness of a police pursuit, he told the court his client showed insight into his actions and had good prospects of rehabilitation. He told the court the offence could be a positive turning point for Fenton if the court mandated his treatment for mental health issues.

Robert John Fenton appeared in Goulburn Local Court on June 23 2021.

Magistrate Beattie said the offence showed Fenton was “out of control”.

“It’s an alarming episode of driving,” she said.

“It’s one of those offences that goes straight to the heart of everyone’s safety.”

Despite her fears Fenton would repeat the offence, she accepted Fenton’s relatively clear record and need for mental health treatment.

Magistrate Beattie sentenced Fenton to an intensive corrections order for 13.5 months and ordered him to get mental health treatment as directed. She also disqualified him from driving for two years, to which a tearful Fenton told her he wouldn’t ever drive again.