Former AFL umpire Troy Pannell ‘drove off’ on cops after being stopped over fraud case

New details have emerged about how former AFL umpire Troy Pannell drove off on police who had stopped him after he had failed to turn up to court over the disappearance of $8.7 million.

Former umpire Troy Pannell has been suspended from driving for six months. Picture: Supplied

Former AFL umpire Troy Pannell has been suspended from driving for six months for failing to stop for police trying to apprehend him over an alleged $8.7 million fraud.

The 49-year-old faced the Heidelberg Magistrates Court on Wednesday, where charges of theft were dropped.

He had been accused of stealing a Hyundai Tucson, iPhone and laptop from his employer but they were later recovered.

Mr Pannell had been working for Demos Property Services, a cleaning company, which accused him of failing to return the $45,0000 car after he was sacked for failing to turn up to work.

Mr Pannell had gone on the run after his long term employer SeaRoad Shipping had accused him in Victoria’s Supreme Court of misappropriating $8.7 million over more than a decade.

Former AFL umpire Troy Pannell leaves the Victoria Supreme Court after his July 18 appearance on a civil claim of stealing $8.7 million from SeaRoad Shipping. Picture: Mark Stewart

He had taken a job with Demos after the scandal was uncovered late last year.

Mr Pannell stopped turning up for work at Demos when the story broke in May, with the company demanding he return the vehicle, laptop and iPhone.

He told his employer on May 25 that he would return the items.

“I will see you then, I will be with my legal team for the next three or four days outlining a response to the Herald Sun,” he wrote to Demos.

“I hereby resign from my employment effective immediately. I look forward to clearing my name through all court proceedings.”

Mr Pannell then fled Melbourne, driving around South Australia and country Victoria to visit places his family had taken him as a child, the court heard.

Police tried to stop Mr Pannell when they noticed him driving a silver VW Caddy van in Cobram on May 30.

He stopped on the side of the road but then fled when police went back to their vehicle to check his details.

Mr Pannell was seen again on June 6 by police near Daylesford in country Victoria.

They put on lights and sirens to stop Mr Pannell but he drove off, with police ending their pursuit.

His car was then involved in an accident about 2km from where police had tried to intercept him.

Mr Pannell suffered cuts and a concussion, and was taken to the Alfred Hospital by air ambulance.

Jessica Clarebrough, acting for Mr Pannell, said that Mr Pannell was under stress when he evaded police.

“He was just panicking, your honour,” she said.

Troy Pannell was an AFL umpire for 16 years. Picture: Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images

Ms Clarebrough told the court that Mr Pannell had a previously clean record and was subjected to annual police checks while he was an AFL umpire for 16 years.

She added he was suffering from mental health issues as a result of the court cases and asked for the court to consider his time served in any sentence and his early guilty plea.

Magistrate Wighton suspended Mr Pannell’s licence for six months for the two charges of failing to stop for police, which is mandatory in Victoria.

The charges were adjourned for six months and would be dismissed if Mr Pannell was of good behaviour, Magistrate Wighton said.

No conviction was recorded.

Mr Pannell was due to be sentenced on a contempt of court matter in the Victorian Supreme Court on Friday, July 25.

He has yet to file a defence to SeaRoad Shipping’s claim about the missing $8.7 million and the company’s allegations have not been proven.