Toukley: Riley Wilcox, 23, pleads guilty to police pursuit, assaulting officer and headbutting window

A drink driver, who crashed a friend’s car during a brief pursuit before assaulting an officer, wet himself on the way back to the police station, a court has heard.

Riley Wilcox, 23, of Gosford, leaving Wyong Local Court after being sentenced for a drink-driving crash he had while fleeing police, who he also assaulted. Picture: NewsLocal

As a father of two young children, with another on the way, Riley Wilcox should know a thing or two about changing nappies.

But it was the 23-year-old who was struggling with incontinence when he urinated in his pants on the way back to the police station after crashing a friend’s car during a brief pursuit while drunk.

Wilcox, of Gosford, faced Wyong Local Court on Wednesday where he pleaded guilty to negligent driving, failing to stop when directed, drink driving, assaulting police, destroying property and driving while his learner licence was expired.

An agreed set of facts states police were patrolling Canton Beach and Toukley in an unmarked car when they noticed a red Holden Commodore going over the speed limit.

Police pulled in behind the Commodore when they saw it do a short burnout as it went through the roundabout of Moss Ave and Crossingham St at 9.43pm on April 18.

Wilcox later headbutted the rear window of a police Hyundai iLoad van causing it to shatter. (File image)

Officers activated their lights and sirens to pull the Commodore over but it accelerated harshly away and police initiated a pursuit.

The Commodore cut the corner as it turned into Pearce Ave and continued in a “wide uncontrolled arc” until it slid into a telegraph pole on the far side of the road about 100m from the intersection.

No control: Wilcox wet his pants in the back of the police vehicle. Picture: NewsLocal

Officers rushed over and found the car’s owner, a young woman who was not Wilcox’s girlfriend, in the front passenger seat and Wilcox driving.

The facts state Wilcox was initially cooperative but his “aggression and behaviour quickly escalated”.

He failed a roadside test and officers sat him down until a caged vehicle could take him to Wyong Police Station.

Checks revealed his learner licence had expired.

While on the ground Wilcox lashed out with his foot at the ankle of one of the officers causing pain and a graze.

When a fully-marked police iLoad van arrived they took him around to the back of the vehicle to search him.

“During the search the accused has pushed away from the vehicle and managed to put about 50cm between himself and the police vehicle,” the facts state.

“The accused has unexpectedly lunged forward with his upper body and used his head to strike the rear window of the vehicle causing it to shatter and a head-sized hole left.”

“During the convey to Wyong Police Station the accused has soiled himself by means of urinating in his pants.”

He later returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.126.

His lawyer said Wilcox was lucky to not to kill anyone. He was also lucky to avoid jail. Picture: NewsLocal

Wilcox’ solicitor told the court it was lucky no one was injured or killed in the crash.

He said Wilcox was working full-time, had two kids and his partner — who was in court supporting him — was pregnant with his third child.

Wilcox’ solicitor said despite the abhorrent offending his client “wants to be a role model” for his children.

Magistrate Robert Munro said the offending was aggravated because there was a passenger in the car and that “binge drinking” appeared to be Wilcox’ underlying issue.

He convicted Wilcox on all charges, fined him $2200 and put him on a community correction order for 12 months with 100 hours of community service.

Mr Munro also disqualified Wilcox from driving for five months and put him on an interlock order for a further 12 months.