Warren Lewis Barker’s passenger uncoupled trailer from stolen ute during police chase

The 38-year-old pleaded guilty to a string of offences arising from a dangerous three-hour crime spree on the streets of Toowoomba early Sunday.

In scenes akin to a Hollywood movie, a man climbed out of the cabin of a stolen dual cab ute under police pursuit and into the tray to uncouple a stolen trailer being towed, Toowoomba Magistrates Court has been told.

All the more dangerous, the stolen dual cab had only moments earlier had its tyres blown out by tyre deflation devices thrown across Bridge St, Wilsonton, and was still doing about 60kmh on its rims.

It what became a series of offences committed over a few hours early Saturday, Warren Lewis Barker, 38, and a 35-year-old co-accused had broken into a business on Anzac Ave, Drayton, about 12.30am stealing keys to two white Colorado dual cabs which were driven away, police prosecutor Rohan Brewster-Webb told the court.

Both vehicles were fitted with tracking devices which activated when the engines were started, he said.

Police claim the pair stopped at a Drayton Road shopping centre and tried to steal an ATM.

Mr Brewster-Webb said the pair had then stolen a box trailer from Rielly St, Torrington, which a police patrol spotted being towed as the dual cab ran a red light about 1.37am before driving on the wrong side of a roundabout near Ruthven and Long streets.

About 3am, police again spotted the ute on Carrington Road and activated lights and siren, calling on them to stop.

Ignoring police, the dual cab eventually ran over “stingers” on Bridge St but continued on the car’s rims east on Bridge St.

During the ensuing pursuit, police claim Barker’s passenger had climbed out into the tray and uncoupled the stolen trailer which crashed into a traffic light, he said.

Eventually the damaged ute came to a halt, and the pair was arrested.

Barker appeared in custody to plead guilty to 11 offences including dangerous driving, unlawful use of motor vehicles, evading police, disqualified driving and burglary.

His solicitor Kirsty Smith said Barker had struggled with ice addiction which he intended addressing upon his release from prison.

The father of two had found it difficult to re-establish himself in the community and find employment after his release from prison in June last year, she said.

Parole could give Barker the support he required in the community to get away from drugs, she submitted.

Magistrate Kay Philipson found the offences all arose from “one extended course of conduct”.

Noting Barker had been jailed before for similar offending, Ms Philipson sentenced him to 15 months in jail, to be released on parole on December 5, and disqualified him from driving for two years.