Brandon Hart refused bail after alleged South Morang police chase

An Epping man was so desperate to get out of jail to attend his sister’s wedding he even handed the invitation as evidence.

Brandon Hart will miss his sister’s wedding after he was refused bail.

A man who allegedly sped on the wrong side of the road while fleeing police has pushed to be granted bail so he could attend his sister’s wedding.

Brandon Hart, 27, fronted Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, facing charges including recklessly causing serious injury and careless driving.

Hart allegedly accelerated onto the wrong side of the road — into oncoming traffic — twice about 10am on January 14 after police tried to pull him over in South Morang.

Police allegedly turned their lights and sirens off after Hart began swerving onto the wrong side of the road because he was posing such a serious risk to other road users.

Hart was on two community corrections orders at the time, having only been released from jail about seven weeks earlier, the court heard.

The court heard Hart had not been complying with his orders, had still been taking drugs and had been hit with 71 charges since 2019.

Hart’s lawyer told the court Hart’s sister was getting married on Saturday, tendering an invitation for the magistrate to review.

His mother, Narelle Hart, gave evidence that Hart was scheduled to do a reading at the wedding.

Ms Hart said her son could live under her supervision in Epping, and that she was in regular contact with his corrections officer.

She offered up to $1000 surety to the court for her son’s release.

Hart’s lawyer said her client was planning to plead guilty to some of the charges early in June, and risked spending too long in custody waiting for the court date.

Magistrate Wakeling agreed there was a risk that Hart would be sentenced to less jail time than the 102 days until the plea date.

But Ms Wakeling did not agree Hart’s situation met the ‘exceptional circumstances’ test required to release him, refusing bail.

Ms Wakeling concluded by apologising to Ms Hart.

“I’m sorry your family is in this situation.”