Stephen Bextream charged with dangerous driving while pursued by police

A Shepparton man recently released from prison for ramming a police car has been charged over another alleged high-speed chase.

Stephen Bextream has been charged after allegedly leading police on another dangerous high-speed chase.

A Shepparton man recently released from prison for ramming a police car is back behind bars after he allegedly attempted to evade police at high speeds through the Goulburn Valley.

Stephen Bextream appeared in the Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on November 21 after being charged with dangerous driving while being pursued by police and reckless conduct endangering life.

Police were looking for Mr Bextream in relation to an aggravated home invasion that involved a firearm, the court heard.

Police located Mr Bextream on Raftery Rd in Kialla before he allegedly drove at speed towards them and “passed within a few metres” of their car before they attempted to intercept him.

Mr Bextream allegedly continued to drive erratically at speeds north towards Shepparton when police stopped their pursuits.

Police allege he hit speeds well over 100km/h and may have reached up to 150km/h.

One of the roads Mr Bextream was allegedly driving erratically on a road that has an advisory speed limit of 10km/h, the court heard.

Stephen Bextream has been charged after he allegedly drove erratically away from police as they tried to apprehend him just months after his release from prison.

Mr Bextream drove to the Cobram-Barooga region on the Murray River and checked into accommodation in Barooga, on the NSW side of the river, where he planned to stay for a few days.

The following day Mr Bextream was arrested by police when they located him inside the Cobram IGA.

Mr Bextream, who appeared from remand, applied for bail.

Detective Senior Constable Scott Begbie opposed bail, saying he had a history of dangerous driving and had 18 prior convictions for unlicensed or disqualified driving.

Sen Constable Begbie also argued that Mr Bextream would go to great lengths to avoid apprehension.

Mr Bextream was released from prison on September 6.

Mr Bextream’s lawyer Ian Michaelson told the court there was no accurate device police used to determine Mr Bextream’s speed and they based it on “conjecture”.

Sen Constable Begbie told the court they were relying on their experience as police officers to determine the speeds.

Mr Bextream was released from prison on September 6 and placed on a community corrections order after he injured three police officers when he rammed a police car on January 12, 2023.

The court heard corrections “were not impressed” with Mr Bextream’s compliance with the order.

Magistrate Olivia Trumble denied Mr Bextream bail, saying “he’s clearly evaded the police in some form”.

Ms Trumble said “the nail in the coffin” for Mr Bextream was his lack of compliance with his community corrections order.

Mr Bextream was released and expected to be charged on summons in relation to the home invasion, the court heard.

He will face court again at a later date.