Ulladulla man Timothy Bell refused bail on larceny charge

A man with a history of car theft has been nabbed by police more than three years after he did a runner on a court appearance. See how police caught him.

Timothy Bell appeared in Nowra Local Court via video link from the Parklea Correctional Centre. Picture: File.

A man who was issued an arrest warrant in 2019 for stealing cars has finally been hauled before a Magistrate years later.

After avoiding his arrest for three years, Timothy Bell, 33, from Ulladulla, was caught in late 2022 driving with drugs in his system.

Bell pleaded guilty in Nowra Local Court on Tuesday to driving with drugs present in blood and driving while disqualified.

During a bail application, Bell told Magistrate Gabriel Fleming he was working hard to change his ways, and informed her he no longer had drugs in his system.

“Is there any chance of bail your honour?” Bell asked the court.

Magistrate Fleming said she needed to examine the police documents outlining his historic charges before she could grant bail.

“You can make the application, but you have a very poor record, so I’m not going to look very favourably on it, am I?” she said.

Police facts were presented to the court which outlined the specific details of Bell’s offences, both recent and historic.

In 2016, Bell verbally abused his partner over the phone due to a conflict regarding their child, leading to an intimidation charge.

The facts stated Bell called her a “sl-t” before threatening to jump on her head.

Bell defended the claims by alleging they were aimed at his brother, informing the court “I didn’t say that to my partner”.

Magistrate Fleming said this was not true.

“The facts say you said ‘you’re a liar, you’re a fat sl-t’, that wasn’t aimed at your brother was it?” she asked.

“I’m sorry your honour,” Bell replied.

Facts also stated Bell stole a vehicles in 2016 by telling the seller of the private car he was taking it to a mechanic to be checked before failing to return it. He proceeded to drive the car with drugs in his blood.

Bell failed to appear in court in 2016 for charges of larceny and driving a vehicle with drugs present, but he was later found, arrested and sentenced to two and a half years in prison.

Upon release, Bell stole another vehicle in 2019 and, once again, failed to appear in court. However this time, he was not found until late 2022.

Bell’s lawyer, Hannah Dreher said bail should be granted on the fresh charges to give her client the opportunity to continue improving his life.

“He will live with his partner in Ulladulla who he said has a positive influence on him,” she said.

“He will be willing to comply with the strict bail orders.”

Despite this, Magistrate Fleming did not grant bail, due to Bell’s “unfavourable record”.

“You told us you were off drugs, but you were recently caught on drugs,” she said.

“At this stage, I am not prepared to grant you bail because I am not 100 per cent satisfied you won’t return to court.”

Bell will be sentenced on the 2019 charges and the new charges in Nowra Local Court on February 7.