A Berkeley man who allegedly led police on a high-speed car chase through Warilla in a stolen luxury car has been refused bail.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Kyle Alcock, 29, fronted Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday. He was denied release as he was on parole at the time of the alleged pursuit and has a lengthy criminal record, including being a disqualified driver until 2030.
Documents tendered to court said police officers were patrolling Warilla streets on Monday evening when they noticed a white Audi A6, without registration plates, that had been reported stolen from a Dapto home earlier in the day.
The car was parked at the end of Ponsford Street, Warilla with a man sitting in the driver's seat about 7pm.
When the driver saw the officer, he allegedly reversed in a "dangerous manner" at speed from Ponsford Street onto Bradman Avenue for about 100 metres.
Police noticed the driver had curly black hair and was wearing a bright blue-hooded jumper, orange and black gloves and a black and white patterned scarf that was used as a face covering.
Police allege the driver was Alcock, as he is well known to police, however could not positively identify him at the time due to the face covering.
Police allege Alcock ignored all warning signs from the officers and drove forward along Bradman Avenue above the speed limit.
Police initiated a pursuit but it was terminated a short time later due to the high speed travelling through Warilla residential streets.
A police helicopter was called in to try to locate the car before a member of the public called police after seeing a white car, driven by a man in a blue-hooded jumper, allegedly speeding along Northcliffe Drive in Berkeley about 7.35pm.
PolAir did a flyover and identified the car in bushland between Gallop and Baronga Avenue.
The helicopter maintained aerial surveillance, particularly over Baronga Aveue as police were aware Alcock lived nearby.
A short time later a man in blue-hooded jumper was sighted by PolAir leaving a Baronga Avenue home before he entered a Nanawilli Street home via the front door.
Police surrounded the premises and forced entry into the home before allegedly finding Alcock hiding under a bed. He was not wearing a blue jumper.
Alcock was arrested and police searched the home, finding a blue-hooded jumper, black and white face scarf and orange and black gloves, as well as an Audi key in a white manbag under the bed.
Police also found a blue and white stolen Yamaha motorbike under the house.
Police confirmed the white Audi found in bushland was the same car that had been reported stolen.
The court heard Alcock was on parole until October 2021 for driving a stolen vehicle, dangerous driving and disqualified driving and has previously been charged with 15 driving offences.
Alcock's defence lawyer Joe Healy warned that his client was at risk of being "institutionalised" and could live in rural NSW. He also said the prosecution case was not strong and "speculative" as police had not positively identified Alcock as the driver.
However, Magistrate Susan McGowan refused to grant Alcock bail noting the police case appeared strong, that a custodial sentence was likely if he was convicted and his "unfortunate" record.
The case was adjourned until February.
We depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.