Anthony John Cole allegedly threw tomahawk during car chase

A man has faced court over an alleged road rage incident which included a high-speed pursuit through the streets of Bendigo before he threw a tomahawk at a woman’s car.

A man charged over an extreme road rage incident, where he allegedly threw a tomahawk at a woman’s car during a high-speed pursuit through the streets of Bendigo, will fight the charges to avoid a jail sentence.

Anthony John Cole appeared before Bendigo Magistrates Court on Monday over an alleged extreme road rage incident on April 3, 2019.

The court heard the incident began just before midnight at Epsom Village when a woman “bumped” her car into a blue Toyota Corolla hatchback, driven by Cole with two other people inside.

Police prosecutors alleged that Cole and his passengers began abusing the woman and throwing objects at her car before she drove off.

They said the hatchback then began pursuing her.

Police said the woman was desperate to get away from the car aggressively chasing her, which was alleged to have been driving at speeds in excess of 140km/h.

Police said the woman drove north to Huntly then doubled back to Bendigo, turning off her headlights to hide from the second car.

Police allege as she drove back into town, Cole threw a tomahawk at her windscreen, shattering it.

Cole’s lawyers dispute that he threw the weapon at her car, but police said her terror could be heard in a triple-0 call.

“She was frantic on the phone,” police prosecutions said.

“She was fleeing for her life.”

In her panic to escape, the woman mounted a roundabout and blew out one of her tyres.

Police said the damage caused a “large cloud of thick smoke” to emerge from the bonnet.

“She thought her car was going to blow up,” the prosecution said.

Still the woman continued driving to the Bendigo police station, allegedly still followed by the blue hatchback.

Police said she was escorted into the station and officers observed the blue hatchback parked on the opposite side of the High St building.

A search of the car allegedly found knuckledusters and a City of Greater Bendigo street sign.

Cole was arrested on charges of conduct endangering life.

Cole’s lawyers claim the high-speed chase, which reached speeds of 140km/h, was because he wanted to get her details after she backed into his vehicle.

Cole was later allegedly caught driving under the influence of drugs while unlicensed in July 2019.

Magistrate Sharon McRae said the alleged incident ticked every for a high-risk road rage incident: it was at night, allegedly included weapons and was at high speeds.

“Mr Cole was the driver, he could have stopped at any time,” Ms McRae said.

“He could have killed her, his passengers or anyone else.

“(And) this is the fifth time he has put other road users at risk.

“He has a history of flouting the law in regards to driving.”

Ms McRae said if he entered an early guilty plea Cole would face four months jail.

The young man began to shake his head as the prospect of a jail term was announced and his lawyer said Cole was concerned about any term of imprisonment.

His lawyer called for a community corrections order, adding Cole had since completed a drug and drinking course.

His lawyers accepted Cole had “exceptionally bad thinking on the night”.

Ms McRae said the severity of the incident means any guilty finding would come with a term of imprisonment.

Cole will contest the charges in a mention on March 17.

His bail was extended.