Nathan Green pleads guilty to 10 offences after police chase in stolen vehicle
A man — disqualified from driving until 2035 — has pleaded guilty to leading police on a one-hour cat-and-mouse pursuit in which he rammed a police car with a stolen ute.
Nathan Green appeared briefly in Gosford Local Court today where his Legal Aid solicitor entered guilty pleas to 10 offences including two counts of “Skye’s law” — failing to stop during a police pursuit — car theft and using a vehicle as a dangerous weapon to avoid arrest.
A set of agreed police facts tendered in court revealed Green, 39, of Summerland Point, had a lengthy history of similar offences and on this occasion showed he was “prepared to do whatever it takes to avoid being arrested”.
Brisbane Water Highway Patrol officers were conducting speed checks on Matcham Rd, Matcham, when they clocked a Subaru WRX travelling 91km/h in a 60km/h zone about 8.45am.
Police immediately gave chase with Green reaching 160km/h before police terminated the pursuit for safety reasons.
Moments later police came to the intersection of Matcham Rd and Coachwood Drive where they found the Subaru had lost control and collided rear-first into an embankment.
Witnesses told officers three occupants had fled into a nearby paddock.
Police saturated the area and called in the Dog Unit and PolAir for assistance.
A female passenger, aged 19, was arrested a short time later and taken to Gosford Police Station. She was later released pending further inquiries.
Meanwhile, Green approached a man warming up a Mitsubishi Triton in a driveway and asked if he could call a taxi.
As the man went inside he left the Triton running, with Green jumping behind the wheel and leaving.
The owner of the ute has followed in a separate vehicle and, noticing the heavy police presence, spoken to officers at the intersection of Matcham Rd and Coachwood Drive.
Seconds later Green drove up and stopped about 30m before the intersection.
A Leading Senior Constable approached Green and told him to “get out of the car” before reaching into the open window to try and grab the keys.
Green accelerated causing the window pillar to hit the officer’s right hand.
He has then sped off down Coachwood Drive narrowly avoiding the other officer who had to run out of his way.
Two more police gave chase reaching speeds of 120km/h.
“The pursuit continued along Carlton Rd, Holgate, where the accused has stopped and reversed into Brisbane Water 35 causing significant damage,” police facts read.
“It’s expected Brisbane Water 35 will be written off once the damage is assessed.”
Green took off with two more police in pursuit.
From Carlton Rd he went onto the Central Coast Highway, left at Terrigal Drive and left again at Kuburra Rd, which he soon realised was a dead-end and turned around.
“The accused accelerated towards two police vehicles in Kuburra Rd, both of which were forced to swerve to avoid collisions,” the facts read.
Green went back up Terrigal Drive and run an orange light as he crossed the highway onto Barralong Rd and onto the wrong side of the road.
“At the time other vehicles were using Barralong Rd and forced to take evasive action to avoid collisions,” the facts read.
Police terminated the chase but the PolAir helicopter followed the ute through Springfield and Gosford where he turned into a driveway on Erina St.
Green was arrested about 9.45am as he tried to walk away.
“The accused showed absolutely no regard for police and it is only luck that no officer was seriously injured or killed,” the facts read.
“The accused actions in driving at police and ramming a police vehicle show he was intent on making good his escape with no regard to the consequences.”
Green’s Legal Aid solicitor did not apply for bail and it was formally refused.
He is to reappear at court on July 31.
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