Nicole Marie Beekmans cops big fine for evading police during pursuit in Kearneys Spring

A mother of five ‘panicked’ when she was stopped by police, taking off as they approached her car before she ditched the vehicle and hid in a backyard.

After stealing a scooter, a Toowoomba woman has copped a hefty fine for leading police on a pursuit after she “panicked” and tried to flee.

Toowoomba Magistrates Court was told about 11.20pm on November 25 last year police were patrolling in Kearneys Spring along Ruthven Street when they saw a black Mazda take a hasty turn into the Harvey Norman shopping centre.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Alister Windsor said police followed the vehicle and saw it speed up and exit the centre before driving into The Ridge Shoppingworld carpark.

Nicole Marie Beekmans, 34, was fined $6892.50 and placed on 12 months probation for leading police on a pursuit in Kearneys Spring last year.

As the vehicle left the carpark police activated their lights and sirens, and over loudspeaker directed the vehicle to stop.

“The vehicle initially followed the commands given, and both police officers exited their marked vehicle but as they made their way towards the subject vehicle and reached level with the boot the vehicle drove away on Hume Street, and police lost sight of it,” Sergeant Windsor said.

About 11.30pm police patrols found the vehicle stopped on Alderley Street, with the ignition still running and both driver and passenger side doors open.

While a man approached police with his hands up, the driver of the vehicle, Nicole Marie Beekmans, was found hiding in a backyard nearby.

The 34-year-old mother of five pleaded guilty to evasion, trespass, driving without a licence, entering a dwelling and committing an indictable offence and stealing on Monday, January 31.

The court was told that earlier the same night, Beekmans was caught on CCTV about 10.30pm stealing a broken scooter from the rear of the Anaconda store on Ruthven Street.

After she was arrested Beekmans also told police she had been involved in a robbery at Ballard in October where she was paid $50 to drive another man to a property where a number of items were stolen.

Nicole Marie Beekmans, 34, was fined $6892.50 and placed on 12 months probation for leading police on a pursuit in Kearneys Spring last year.

Beekmans solicitor Nathan Bouchier, of Bouchier Khan Lawyers, said while his client had a history of drug issues, which stemmed from when she found out the father of two of her kids had started a relationship with her sister.

Mr Bouchier said Beekmans’ drug use escalated when she formed a relationship with a serious drug user, and her addiction contributed to her involvement in the offences.

However, Mr Bouchier told the court his client has since turned her life around and was now clean of drugs and that she had also taken back care of her eldest daughter.

The court was told Beekmans “panicked” when she was stopped by police after committing the stealing offence, and Mr Bouchier submitted there was “no dangerousness” to her driving when trying to flee.

Magistrate Graham Lee opted to hand Beekmans a $6892.50 fine, referred to SPER, place her on 12 months probation and disqualify her from driving for two years. Convictions were recorded.