James Keating: Dangerous driver leads police on wild off-road pursuit in Melton

A man lead police on a wild off road chase in scenes that resembled a James Bond action film. But when cops turned up to the house of a Melton man they believed was the driver, his mum was only too happy to let them in.

James Keating lead police in a wild off road chase in Melton before they raided his home where they found a gun and ammunition. Picture: Generic

A lunatic driver who took police on a wild chase through Melbourne’s west in scenes resembling a Hollywood action film has been released from jail.

James Keating was bailed at the Sunshine Magistrates’ Court on Monday after pleading guilty to a raft of offences including failing to stop at the scene of an accident, failing to stop at police direction, dangerous driving while pursued by police, gun and drug possession and driving while disqualified.

Court documents reveal Keating was behind the wheel of a Nissan Navara 4WD in Melton when police spotted him and attempted to pull him over near the Melton Primary Medical Centre on July 26.

Keating sped off down Station St, driving the wrong way through a roundabout, forcing other drivers to veer out of his way.

Keating then turned on to Barries Rd and overtook cars while speeding down the emergency lane before he smashed through wooden bollards at the end of Kinkora Rd and took the police pursuit off road.

Police followed as he drove into adjacent grassland and through a large storm water drain before allegedly ramming his car through a chain-link fence and over a footpath, narrowly missing pedestrians, including a person riding a motorised scooter.

The next day police found his car parked outside a Melton home, and when they searched his bedroom, after being let inside the house by his helpful mother, they allegedly found a sawn-off shotgun and ammunition.

Keating was bailed but busted allegedly in possession of GHB just over a week later on August 7 when police patrols found him sitting in his car in Church St, Melton, about 2.45am in breach of his bail conditions and Melbourne’s night-time coronavirus curfew.

Keating’s lawyer told the court his client had spent 32 days in custody since his arrest early last month.

Magistrate Richard Pithouse bailed Keating and deferred sentencing to October 6.

But he said he wouldn’t hesitate to lock him up again if he breached his bail again or got behind the wheel of a car.

“To be perfectly frank I can’t think of any circumstance why I would extend our bail rather than revoke it,” Mr Pithouse said.

“This is purely in your hands.”

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