Wasim Hawat: Guildford man allegedly crashed Mercedes into store during police pursuit

A kitchen fitter allegedly drove a Mercedes through a sign making business during a police chase, later telling officers he wasn’t driving when he was found hiding with the car key in his pocket.

Wasim Hawat allegedly drove a Mercedes SUV through Sign On Guildford. Picture: Google Maps

A kitchen fitter allegedly led police on a pursuit before crashing his Mercedes into a sign making business and attempting to hide under a table.

Guildford man Wasim Hawat appeared before Parramatta Local Court on Sunday, charged with resisting officers in execution of duty, driving with a cancelled licence, not stopping when directed, and driving recklessly during police pursuit.

When applying for bail, the court heard he had only recently been released on parole for serious robbery offences.

According to documents filed to the court, Hawat drove past police on Guildford Rd about 9pm on Saturday night, with the automatic licence plate reader raising an alert.

Police allege they did a U-turn and put their sirens on for Hawat to pull over but he sped away, making a sharp right hand turn onto Roseberry Rd, cutting the corner and putting his white Mercedes SUV on the wrong side of the road.

Hawat allegedly crashed the Mercedes through Sign On Guildford, where he was found by police. Picture: Google Maps

The pursuit continued down Henry St, before Hawat turned left onto Woodville Rd, forcing other vehicles to avoid him, as he swerved in and out of traffic, police say.

When he tried to make a left hand turn from Woodville Rd onto Rhodes Ave, Hawat allegedly crashed into the Sign On store, with the speed and force of the collision completely destroying one side of the business, and sealing off his exit.

Police allege Hawat got out of the car, and tried to hide under a desk inside the business, telling police “I wasn’t even driving” when they eventually found him, with the key to the car in his pocket.

In the car, police allege they discovered a Gucci satchel bag with two phones, $375, a valium tablet, and personal papers belonging to Hawat.

Police prosecutor William Jarbeau told the court Hawat had recently been released on parole for serious robbery offences.

“He cannot comply with parole,” Mr Jarbeau said. “One would think you would walk on the straight and narrow.”

The Guildford man’s lawyer told the court the facts did not specify whether one or two people were in Hawat’s vehicle at the time of the alleged offences.

Magistrate Lyon asked the lawyer if he was submitting to the court that two people swapped positions in the car somehow, at high speed, before the car crashed into the building.

“The complete contradiction doesn’t sit with the facts,” Mr Lyon said.

He said the court had clear concerns for the safety of the community, and denied Hawat’s bail application.

Hawat is next scheduled to appear in Parramatta Local Court on November 29.