Ryan Dunning: Bega father allegedly blows 0.222 with children in car after police chase

A South Coast father who allegedly led police on a drunken daytime chase with two distressed children in the car will remain behind bars on remand, a local court has heard.

A Bega father who allegedly led police on a drunken daytime chase with two distressed children in the car will remain behind bars on remand as he faces a raft of driving and domestic abuse charges.

Ryan Dunning, 34, wiped away tears as he was told at Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday that he would not be released after allegedly being caught by police driving with a 0.222 blood alcohol content.

Bega Traffic and Highway Patrol officers were patrolling the Princes Hwy near Yellow Pinch, about 24km south of Bega, about 4.40pm on Saturday when they attempted to stop a white Nissan Pathfinder.

Police allege that Dunning was travelling up to 90km/h in a 50km/h zone as police gave pursuit, and was allegedly behind the wheel of the ute despite an interlock device being installed following prior charges.

He allegedly came to a stop on Candelo-Wolumla Rd near Wolumla, before being taken to Bega Police Station.

Solicitor Adam Sonbak told Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday that Dunning had been the sole carer for his two children, aged eight and 10, after the death of his partner eight years prior.

“Over the past eight years, he has put the children’s needs first,” Mr Sonbak said.

“He has not approached his own needs and grief.”

Following the tragedy, Mr Sonbak said Dunning had developed an alcohol addiction, consuming about “half a box” of beer per day. That usage, Mr Sonbak argued, led to all recent alleged offending.

“Dunning has been candid in relation to his current, out-of-control drinking problem,” he said.

“He uses it as a coping mechanism.”

Dunning did not enter pleas in relation to charges of reckless driving, driving with a high range PCA, avoiding an interlock device, and breaching of an AVO, and will appear at Bega Local Court on September 14.

That day, Dunning will also face charges of common assault related to domestic violence, resisting arrest, intimidating a police officer, and assaulting a police officer relating to an incident on June 2 in Bega. Dunning has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

At Batemans Bay Local Court, the police prosecutor told Magistrate Doug Dick that Dunning had allegedly been aggressive towards officers during the incident.

Magistrate Dick said that while he recognised Dunning’s sole care of his children, he believed their presence in the car only aggravated the seriousness of the alleged crimes.

“I am not satisfied the bail risk can be mitigated,” he said.

At the time of the alleged chase, Dunning was on bail and prohibited from possessing alcohol.