Benjamin Wills denied bail over alleged police chase

A man accused of leading police on a high-speed pursuit from Winchelsea to Werribee, during which he allegedly crashed into a car and a school fence, has been refused bail.

Benjamin Wills allegedly drove erratically, weaving through traffic at high speed along the Princes Hwy and Geelong Ring Road.

A man who allegedly led police on a high-speed chase through Geelong from Winchelsea to Werribee on Valentines Day has been denied bail.

Benjamin Wills, 27, fronted the Geelong Magistrates’ Court on Monday, facing 18 charges stemming from a police pursuit on Friday including four counts of aggravated reckless exposure of police officer to risk by driving, dangerous driving while being pursued and reckless conduct endangering life.

Nominal informant Acting Sergeant Aaron Thanas told the court Mr Wills was first spotted by police hurtling along the Princes Hwy in Winchelsea in an unregistered Ford Falcon at an estimated speed of 140km/h at 12.40pm on Friday.

Police say he was seen by two other officers on the Geelong Ring Road at Waurn Ponds, now estimated to be speeding at an alleged 187km/h.

In dashcam footage shown to the court, police took off in pursuit, as Mr Wills allegedly wove between cars causing “numerous near misses” and used the emergency stopping lane to overtake cars, with plumes of dust erupting behind the car as it went onto the shoulder of the road.

Mr Wills then allegedly lost control of his car at 170km/h and crashed into a Toyota Kluger, the court heard.

After the crash, the chase was terminated, as police feared “he was going to kill someone”, Sergeant Thanas said.

However, the court heard Mr Wills allegedly kept driving, tracked by a police helicopter from Little River, and at around 1.30pm was allegedly seen speeding through a red light at an intersection in Werribee.

Another pursuit began; Sergeant Thanas told the court of one incident which had yet to be included in the police summary, in which Mr Wills allegedly lost control of his car and drove into a primary school fence and kept driving, before several police cars eventually managed to box the Ford Falcon in on Wedge St North and “caressed (Mr Wills’ vehicle) into a tree”.

Sergeant Thanas described the Falcon as being “smashed up” with no tires and no side mirrors.

Nobody was injured during the chase.

When police searched Mr Wills’ car, they allegedly found a machete and a quantity of vegetable matter believed to be cannabis.

The court heard Mr Wills refused a breath test and was deemed unfit for interview.

His lawyer, barrister Rachel Cashmore, told the court Mr Wills was “experiencing a mental health crisis”.

Mr Wills’ mother, who lives in Geelong, told the court her son could stay with her if granted bail.

Mr Wills had been found suitable for supported bail through the Court Integrated Services Program (CISP).

The court heard Mr Wills had reported a history of drug abuse and a traumatic background, and Mr Wills had a “complex mental health history” including diagnoses of PTSD, depression, possible ADHD and borderline personality disorder (BPD).

Magistrate Franz Holzer refused bail.

Mr Wills will return to court next month.

Originally published as Benjamin Wills denied bail over alleged police chase