Dale Collins pleads guilty to reckless conduct endangering life in ice-fuelled chase

An ice-addicted dad led police on a high-speed chase across Geelong in a stolen car, reaching speeds of up to 140km/h and driving on the wrong side of the road, a court has heard.

Dale Collins appeared in Geelong Magistrates Court and pleaded guilty to a litany of offences.

An ice-addicted dad led police on a high-speed chase from Drysdale to Bannockburn, reaching speeds of up to 140km/h and driving on the wrong side of the road, a court has heard.

Dale Collins, 32, appeared in the Geelong Magistrates Court on Thursday, and pleaded guilty to 42 charges, including two counts each of reckless conduct endangering life and reckless conduct endangering serious injury, two counts of dangerous driving, four counts of handling stolen goods, seven counts of theft and numerous bail offences.

Collins also pleaded guilty to unlawful assault, assault with a weapon, affray, possessing police identification and equipment, drug driving, theft of a motor vehicle, failing to stop on police request, intentionally damaging property and three counts of criminal damage.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Emma Morse told the court that on March 6, 2024, just after 1am, police officers spotted a stolen Ford Ranger ute parked by the side of Portarlington Rd, Drysdale.

The vehicle bore false plates and had been reported stolen in January.

Collins got in the driver’s seat and took off, reaching speeds of about 140km/h as police pursued the car.

As the car approached Leopold, Collins veered onto the wrong side of the highway, driving on the wrong side for “several kilometres”, the court heard.

At one point, Collins drove across the median strip again, narrowly missing a police vehicle.

Collins sped through Geelong, emerging onto the Hamilton Highway at 130km/h.

The front bumper was damaged when the car drove through a gate at Bannockburn Reserve.

On Spring Creek Rd, Collins and another man got out and Collins tried to steal another car, before hopping back into the stolen ute.

Shortly after, Collins lost control of the vehicle and veered into a fence.

Both men were arrested.

Ice was found in Collins’ system and he was interviewed that morning, where he admitted to driving erratically and at a high speed.

Last month, Collins was one of a group of offenders who stole $1163 worth of items from Bunnings in Norlane.

The day prior he stole fuel, filling up a jerry can before walking off.

Collins’ lawyer, Tim Hancock, told the court his client struggled to escape a negative peer group he had associated with since his teenage years.

Collins had been diagnosed with ADHD and complex post-traumatic stress-disorder following the death of his mother when he was seven years old, the court heard.

Mr Hancock said Collins was lucky nobody was hurt or seriously injured during the police chase.

“Thankfully, in one view of it, it’s not worse than it is … it has the makings of something far worse than what it was,” Mr Hancock said.

Magistrate Simon Guthrie will sentence Collins on August 28.

Originally published as Dale Collins pleads guilty to reckless conduct endangering life in ice-fuelled chase