Nicholas Leigh Dolan: Man steals six cars, bogs three, loses pants during 440km trip

A West Wyalong man has gone on a seven-day crime spree stealing six cars, getting three of them bogged, while losing his pants in the process. Here’s what happened.

A blue Chrysler PT cruiser was stolen from the William Farrer Hotel in Wagga Wagga. picJames/Robertson motor vehicles car

A West Wyalong man stole six cars during a 440km journey over seven days, where he got three cars bogged, lost his shoes and pants, and sustained a groin injury.

Nicholas Leigh Dolan faced Albury Local Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to 22 offences including aggravated take/drive motor vehicle with person inside, six counts of take and drive conveyance without permission, two counts of dishonestly obtain property by deception, two police pursuits, seven counts of driving while disqualified, larceny, and resisting arrest.

Court documents revealed the 33-year-old’s crime spree started on August 19, 2020, when he stole a blue Chrysler from the parking lot of the William Farrer Hotel in Wagga Wagga at around 7.35pm.
He then drove to the Caltex services station on Edward St and stole $114 worth of fuel.

On August 20 at 3.19am, police noticed the Chrysler travelling at excessive speeds on Merrigal St in Griffith.
Police pursued the vehicle doing 80km/h in a 50km/h zone, when the vehicle went around a roundabout on the wrong side of the road. The pursuit was terminated due to Dolan’s dangerous driving.

Police found the Chrysler abandoned a short time later after it ran out of fuel.

At 5am in Whitton, Dolan took an Izuzu truck. The victims were woken by their dogs barking and the sound of the vehicle starting up.

They got up just in time to see the vehicle driving away.

The victims found the trucked bogged about 1km away with a wallet inside which had been stolen from another victim earlier that night.

According to the police facts, Dolan then walked to a nearby farmhouse where he stole a Toyota Landcruiser.

At about 6.50am he drove the Landcruiser onto another farm in Yanco where the next victim and his wife were woken by the sound of the vehicle driving in.

Dolan once again got the vehicle bogged and, while trying to get the vehicle out, took off his shoes, socks, and pants, and left them in the front of the Landcruiser.

After giving up on the Landcruiser, Dolan walked to the farmhouse and attempted to steal a silver Dodge RAM.

The victims came out of the house and saw a pants-less Dolan who yelled at them: “Look what your f------ dog has done!”

Dolan pointed to his groin where he appeared to have a minor injury caused by the dog.

The accused then ran off wearing just a hoodie and his underwear.

Dolan then entered another property where he stole a Suzuki utility vehicle, which he drove just 500m to a hay shed where he stole a white Toyota Hilux.

At 8.43am the white Hilux was spotted going through the McDonald’s drive through in Leeton.

Police attempted to stop the vehicle but another police pursuit began.

Dolan sped up and threw a full McDonald’s cup out the window at police.

Police terminated the pursuit due to Dolan’s dangerous driving.

Three days later, on August 23, Dolan is spotted in the Coles carpark in Narrandera where he is seen stealing another Hilux.

On August 25, the second Hilux is found bogged with gloves and a house breaking implement inside.

At around 5.30pm in Lavington on August 26, Dolan’s next victim was in his garage when he heard his Holden Colorado, which was parked in the driveway, start.

The victim saw the car reversing out of the driveway with Dolan in the driver’s seat.

When the vehicle stalled, the victim opened the passenger side door and grabbed Dolan with both hands.

Dolan punched the victim in the face causing the victim to fall between the two front seats.

Dolan started the vehicle and sped off, causing the victim to fall from the car and barely miss the back wheels of the vehicle.

Police sighted Dolan driving a red Holden Cruz through Lavington on August 27 and followed him to a Castens St address where he was arrested.

Magistrate Richard Funston said Dolan’s behaviour and criminal history were appalling.

“What troubles me with this offending is in a number of matters witnesses were woken up to hear their car being stolen,” Mr Funston said.

“There’s something incredibly frightening about that for people quietly living their domestic lives.

“During the police pursuit, when police attempted to stop you, you sped up and threw a McDonald’s cup at police.

“It’s that kind of drug affected behaviour that is incredibly menacing and that kind of driving could have resulted in people's death.”

Mr Funston said Dolan needed to address his drug problem.

“It’s the best for you and the community,” he said.

“Otherwise you know you will spend your life going in and out of jail.”

Dolan was sentenced to three years behind bars, with a 20 month non-parole period, back dated to August 27, 2020, when Dolan first entered custody.