Woman charged after allegedly sparking two police pursuits across western Sydney

A woman accused of sparking a wild police pursuit across Western Sydney smashed into the gutter before allegedly attempting to abandon a stolen vehicle while it was still moving.

Police launched two police pursuits following reports of a stolen vehicle in Western Sydney. Picture: Gaye Gerard

The lawyer of an unlicensed driver accused of sparking two wild police pursuits argued the alleged offending “wasn’t planned”, after the woman took off in a stolen vehicle and attempted to abandon the SUV while it was still moving.

The stolen vehicle in the police pursuit across Western Sydney was electronically tracked by its concerned owner.

Alirika Rose Vale, 22, appeared via audiovisual link from Amber Laurel Centre, where she was refused bail over a string of driving and stealing charges following reports a blue Jeep Grand Cherokee had been taken from a home on Bellminer St, Woodcroft, on Friday.

Police allege their first pursuit of Vale along Quakers Hill Parkway, Quakers Hill, was terminated due to safety concerns before they found Vale driving along Sunnyholt Rd, Kings Park.

After Vale refused to stop for a second time, she allegedly hit the gutter on Benalla Cres, Marayong, and attempted to abandon the vehicle while it was still moving.

A woman has been accused of sparking a wild police pursuit across Western Sydney. Picture: iStock

In court on Saturday, police opposed bail and argued Vale was a “real risk for people on the road” and her offending was of “great concern to the court” because she was also on parole until August 2025 for an unrelated aggravated break and enter matter.

The prosecutor said the owner of the vehicle witnessed Vale “entering the driver’s seat and drive away” before they used a device to track their car until police took over and launched the two pursuits.

“The police stopped the vehicle with the defendant exiting the vehicle and being arrested, it’s a strong prosecution case in the circumstances,” he said.

Vale was arrested and taken to Blacktown Police Station, where she was charged with take and drive conveyance without consent of owner, never licensed person drive vehicle on road, police pursuit – not stop, drive recklessly, and goods in personal custody suspected of being stolen.

While Vale’s Legal Aid lawyer Julian Mufale admitted the offences were “quite serious”, he argued his client’s behaviour “wasn’t planned in the slightest”.

He said his client was a young Indigenous woman who has undergone “immense counselling” following the deaths of her uncle and nephew.

Police launched two police pursuits. Picture: Gaye Gerard

“In relation to being bail refused, as someone in her circumstances … she would be vulnerable in custody,” Mr Mufale said.

He argued any bail concerns could be mitigated through strict conditions, including daily reporting to Blacktown Police Station and a ban on alcohol and drugs.

Magistrate Elizabeth Ryan said there was “no option but for the court to refuse bail” because Vale had breached her parole.

Ms Ryan said while Vale had some “very serious issues, they can be managed in custody”.

“She is a risk to the community, to put it simply, because she doesn’t comply with court orders,” she said.

The magistrate spoke directly to Vale and said the court had to “balance” considerations of the “traumas you’ve suffered” because the “community is not safe with you outside (of custody) until you get some things sorted out”.

Vale’s matter was adjourned to August 20 at Blacktown Local Court.