Driver of stolen $120k Audi ‘rams’ police car, was recent parolee

An ice addict who recently completed parole, having served jail time for drugs and driving, has been refused bail for allegedly ramming an unmarked police car with a stolen luxury Audi SUV in Brisbane’s CBD.

An ice addict who recently completed parole, having served jail time for drugs and driving crimes, has been refused bail for allegedly ramming an unmarked police car with a stolen luxury Audi SUV in Brisbane’s CBD.

Joshua Michael Coffin, 35, from Labrador on the Gold Coast, appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Saturday morning where he applied for bail before Magistrate Tracy Mossop.

The court heard that police alleged Coffin rammed an unmarked police car and then refused to get out of the car.

Police were forced to smash the driver’s-side window to remove Coffin from the car, and he was swearing and admitted recent use of the drug ice to police, the court heard.

The court heard that after police learned the Audi Q7 was stolen and saw three people in the car, including Coffin, at the intersection of George and Turbot streets they “tactically parked” their unmarked white Toyota Camry in front of the Audi, stopping just short of the bonnet.

When Coffin saw the unmarked police car, he allegedly rammed the nose of police vehicle, before coming to a stop.

The smashed driver’s side window is clearly visible, at the scene on the corner of George and Turbot streets in the CBD’s legal precinct.

Police allege the car had been stolen from a house in Maudsland, south of Brisbane, on May 19 and was worth $120,000.

Coffin was also found in possession of 1,4 Butanediol or “liquid ecstasy”, the court heard.

The intercept and arrest occurred at 3.30pm on Friday in the legal precinct outside the Brisbane Magistrates Court and home to law firms and barristers’ chambers.

A fire truck was also called to the scene, which saw northbound lanes of George St closed temporarily.

Legal Aid lawyer Nick Hanley told the court that Coffin denies he rammed the police car, but accepts the Audi he was driving was stolen.

Mr Hanley said Coffin had recently completed parole and had an “unenviable” criminal history.

The stolen $120,000 Audi used to ram a police car in Brisbane CBD on Friday Photos: Vanessa Marsh

“He says he suffers from depression and anxiety and has been addicted for ice for 21 years,” Mr Hanley said.

He planned to live with his grandmother in an apartment in Labrador if granted bail.

Video footage of the arrest was published by The Courier-Mail and shared on social media on Friday, Mr Hanley told the court.

Mrs Mossop refused Coffin bail, saying he is disqualified from driving due to a conviction for dangerous operation of a vehicle, which runs until June 30.

She said that the most recent entries on his criminal history showed he had a history of committing crimes while on parole.

Coffin is due to reappear in court on the charges on June 21.

Coffin is facing six charges including unlawful use of a car, dangerous operation of a car while adversely affected by a substance, driving while disqualified and obstructing police.

Coffin’s co-accused, a 34-year-old Nundah man - charged with unlawful use of the Audi - is due in court on June 16, and a 34-year-old Annerley woman facing the same charge is due in court later this month.

Originally published as Driver of stolen $120k Audi ‘rams’ police car, was recent parolee