Scott William Weeding rammed police car at Allenstown Shopping Centre

A Rockhampton drug addict with a 13 page criminal record has been found with almost $90,000 worth of stolen items after ramming a police car in an alarming incident at a local shopping centre. Read the full details of his crimes here.

Scott Weeding is escorted by police in a previous arrest.

A drug addict with a 13 page criminal record and who is linked to $90,000 worth of stolen items, rammed a police car twice and damaged two other vehicles while fleeing police at a shopping centre.

He is now disqualified from driving for 8.5 years, with that disqualification beginning after his current disqualification period ends in November 2023.

Scott William Weeding, 35, pleaded guilty on September 10 in Rockhampton Magistrates Court to 15 charges including dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, break and enter and stealing, receiving tainted property, drug driving, obstruct police, wilful damage, disqualified driving, possessing restricted drugs, driving an unregistered car and driving an uninsured car.

The court heard CCTV captured a heavy-set man with a brown mullet, who was wearing a black and yellow T-shirt, break into a government site with an unknown co-offender on November 21, 2021 about 5.5oam at Limestone Creek Conservation Park.

Police were able to identify the man with the mullet as Weeding, who was on parole.

He and an unknown co-offender gained access to the site by the fence, damaged fleet vehicles and stole a chainsaw and its spare parts, a 40 litre fridge, a first aid kit, a recovery kit, car batteries, a portable air pump, hand tools, a socket set, a spanner set, a head unit of a VHF radio, binoculars and floor mats.

They also stole a car which was used during another burglary at the CQUniversity North Rockhampton campus cafe.

Map of CQUniversity North campus

The pair, who stole $2,000 from the till, were in the process of loading an esky into the stolen Hyundai Accent when they were interrupted by security.

They backed into a tree as they fled the scene.

Weeding’s crime spree continued until four days later, when he was found at Allenstown Plaza about midday, slumped over the steering wheel of Suzuki Swift which was littered with tools, had no front panels around the steering wheel and no key ignition.

Allenstown Shopping Centre

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Jennifer Leech said that after being startled by police presence in the carpark, Weeding attempted to start the car and drive off.

She said Weeding told police he was getting his driver’s licence, but his hands manoeuvred to start the car with wires.

Senior Constable Leech said one of the officers placed his hand inside the vehicle to stop Weeding starting the car.

She said Weeding refused to listen to police or stop the car and drove forward while the officer’s hand was still in the vehicle, forcing the officer to move in time with the vehicle.

Senior Constable Leech said Weeding drove into the parked police vehicle and then reversed into a Fresh Thailicious Delights vehicle, causing damage to a tow ball.

He then drove at the police car a second time and caused major damage to its right rear door.

Weeding the drove forwards, away from the police vehicle, turning left to collide with a yellow Hyundai Getz being driven by a woman.

He drove away, speeding above the 10km/hour speed limit in the carpark, and exited onto Derby Street towards Ross Street in an attempt to evade police.

Weeding had been disqualified in court from driving on August 16, 2018 for five years after many traffic convictions.

In April 2019, he was again disqualified until November 17, 2023.

The vehicle’s registration plates were false and cancelled on June 4, 2019 – 691 days earlier.

Police later located Weeding at an Allenstown address and arrested him.

During a search at Weeding’s residence, they found $50,000 worth of stolen tools belonging to yet another victim.

In total, police found Weeding in possession of $89,320 of stolen items, some which was tainted property.

Tests revealed Weeding had methamphetamines, morphine, methadone and nordiazepam in his system when he was driving.

Weeding’s nine page traffic history included 15 convictions for disqualified driving, seven convictions for dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, eight convictions for driving uninsured, two for drug driving and eight for driving an unregistered vehicle.

Defence lawyer Jess King said Weeding had a fight with his partner and she kicked him out of home, so he was living out of his car.

She said in relation to being in possession of tainted property, Weeding was homeless and needed money, so he purchased the items, knowing they were tainted, and planned to on-sell them.

Ms King said Weeding panicked when he saw police and drove to a friend’s place where he waited for them.

She said Weeding’s criminal career started with an arson conviction when he was a young man and escalated from there.

Ms King said he had been in a serious accident in 2019 and was no longer a habitual user of drugs, just using them occasionally.

She said he had been prescribed lyrica for ongoing pain but the prescription had run out.

Magistrate Cameron Press said Weeding had amassed an appalling record and time in prison had not deterred him.

He sentenced Weeding to 20 months prison, with immediate parole eligibility due to the eight to 10 months parole board application processing delays.

Weeding was also ordered to pay $2500 restitution and disqualified from driving for 8.5 years.

Originally published as Scott William Weeding rammed police car at Allenstown Shopping Centre