Tyson Powell: Darwin meth addict running out of chances after ramming police at Woolner

A Darwin ice addict who breached his parole when he blasted through a police roadblock after “panicking” could be set for a long stint behind bars after pleading guilty to 12 charges.

Darwin man Tyson Powell, 32. Picture: PFES

A Darwin ice addict who breached his parole by blasting through a police roadblock after “panicking” could be set for a long stint behind bars after pleading guilty to 12 charges.

Appearing via video-link from Holtze, Tyson Powell, 32, pleaded guilty on Monday to charges including damaging property, failing to obey a police direction, possessing a trafficable quantity of a Schedule 1 drug, and driving a vehicle in a dangerous manner while under police pursuit.

While the agreed facts of Powell’s offending were not placed on the public record, NT Police previously stated the offending occurred on April 22 last year at Bishop St, Woolner.

Police received a report from a witness about 2.30pm that Powell was behaving in a threatening manner towards his front-seat passenger – an allegation that is not the subject of any charges.

“While attempting to approach the vehicle on foot, the vehicle has allegedly abruptly reversed in the direction of officers before striking the police vehicle and driving off at speed,” police said.

Darwin man Tyson Powell, 32. Picture: PFES

“A police pursuit was terminated due to the dangerous driving of the vehicle.”

The Local Court on Monday heard Powell wasn’t arrested until July 7, where it was discovered he was in breach of parole stemming from a Supreme Court sentence in November 2021 for possessing a trafficable quantity of methamphetamine.

Powell has remained in custody ever since.

Defence counsel Simon Lipert told the court Powell “panicked and drove” when police attempted to intercept him on Bishop St.

“They blocked the car but insufficiently, which allowed him to escape,” Mr Lipert said.

Mr Lipert said his client had been on a downward spiral ever since he became hooked on methamphetamine as a way of self-treating a back injury he sustained while working as a roofer.

“He was in significant pain, that’s how he tripped into getting himself involved in meth and hard drugs,” Mr Lipert said.

Mr Lipert told the court his client had been doing well in prison, completing an addiction program and seeking alcohol and drug counselling via Strong Steps.

Powell wanted to move to Alice Springs with his mother upon his release, in order to separate from negative influences in his life.

Northern Territory Local Court, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Mr Lipert said his client recognised that “if he doesn’t change, this will be his lifestyle, in and out, in and out [of prison]”.

Judge Ben O’Loughlin said he would have Powell assessed for community supervision, but believed the defendant’s prospects were grim.

“The odds of him getting out and not falling back into past behaviours is low,” Judge O’Loughlin said.

“He doesn’t have a good record with suspended sentences.”

Judge O’Loughlin adjourned his decision on sentence to Wednesday, as there was also dispute on how long Powell had to serve on his previous sentence, which he breached by committing the current offences.

Judge O’Loughlin believed there could still be nine months to serve, but this was disputed by Mr Lipert.