A career criminal awaiting sentence on 16 stealing and property offences in the District Court has added another charge to his list after pleading guilty to taking police on a speedy pursuit through suburban streets last July.
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Scott James McLean initially pleaded not guilty to the police pursuit charge, which occurred in the midst of a lengthy crime spree last year, but he confessed to the crime in court on Monday.
McLean, who has a 52-page criminal record, was seen by security guards from Westfield Figtree driving a Hyundai i30 with two different number plates on July 27 last year, prompting the guards to approach McLean.
However, McLean sped off in the car.
Police approaching the shopping centre in the opposite direction to McLean gave chase, pursuing him down several suburban streets, where McLean reached speeds of up to 100km/h in the signposted 50km/h zones.
At one stage McLean almost hit a pedestrian walking a dog.
He eventually dumped the car at a unit block in Crana Place and ran towards Howarth Place where police lost sight of him.
A DNA swab taken from the Hyundai’s steering wheel was matched to McLean.
Police arrested him four days later.
He will be sentenced next month.
