Magistrate orders CAT scan

A man who tried to run down joggers with his car at Fairy Meadow on Sunday was potentially suffering from a momentary psychotic episode, a court has heard.Luke Freeman's mental health was under the spotlight when he appeared in Wollongong Local Court yesterday, after he allegedly played a frightening game of cat-and-mouse with two women jogging along a Fairy Meadow cycleway.The court heard the potentially deadly act was the latest in a string of bizarre offences allegedly committed by the 33-year-old, who is on bail for forcibly performing an exorcism on a man in St Helens Park.Police allege Freeman was driving his white Mazda along Squires Lane on Sunday morning when he mounted the cycleway and tried to run down a female jogger.The woman had to run zigzag and eventually jump into the bushes to avoid Freeman, who was allegedly swerving from side to side to prevent her from escaping.According to evidence before the court, Freeman then drove towards another woman, who was clipped by the car as she quickly jumped away.She escaped without injury.The Towradgi man then performed an illegal U-turn and drove erratically up the street, intimidating other drivers and swerving across both sides of the road, the court was told.He later flagged down police, who connected him with the incident, and was charged with several offences including dangerous driving.A subsequent mental health assessment by a Wollongong Hospital doctor suggested Freeman had suffered from a momentary psychotic episode, which was likely caused by built-up anger.Yesterday the court heard Freeman had a history of mental illness, but had never been diagnosed with anything.Mental health court liaison officer, Richard Noort, assessed Freeman in custody and was unable to conclude he was mentally ill. Instead Mr Noort said it was possible the strange behaviour was the product of a "physical cause" and suggested Freeman attend hospital for a CAT scan.Magistrate Ian Guy granted Freeman bail on the condition he get a referral for a CAT scan and attend regular counselling sessions. Freeman is due to reappear in court on January 11.