A Warilla woman was denied bail after she allegedly crashed a stolen car into a Barrack Heights home on Saturday.
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Melissa Ann Butler, aged 39, appeared before Registrar Martin Kane on Sunday, charged with police pursuit at speed; drive conveyance taken without consent of owner; drive recklessly or furiously; drive during disqualification period; goods in personal custody suspected being stolen; and possess prohibited drug.
In the facts tendered to the court police allege she was spotted driving a stolen 2003 Subaru WRX station wagon in Barrack Heights.
Police say after Butler refused to stop police initiated a pursuit, however, it was called off after Butler allegedly reached speeds of up to 140km per hour in a 50 zone.
A short time later the Subaru crashed into a house on Blackbutt Way.
The car, worth about $10,000, was written off, and about $15,000 worth of damage was caused to the Blackbutt Way home.
Butler attempted to exit the vehicle, and a police officer used a two-second burst of capsicum spray before more officers arrived on the scene and detained Butler and her passenger, 43-year-old man Adam Goods.
Police allege Butler had 0.3 grams of methylamphetamine stashed in her pants. They also allege Goods had 0.3 grams of methylamphetamine in his wallet.
Defence solicitor Wael Skaf accpeted the prosecution had a strong case for a number of the charges against Butler, however, he said she was not aware the vehicle was stolen.
"The vehicle was allegedly stolen the day before, however the police facts do not indicate by who or under what circumstances," he said.
"The keys were given to her by somebody else and she drove to the petrol station for cigarettes and drinks before the pursuit was initiated."
Mr Skaf said Butler's criminal record, while extensive, was mostly shoplifting and dishonesty offences.
"She was raised by her grandparents until she was 13, and her mother died of an overdose," he told the court.
"Her record is characterised by circumstances where she was shoplifting to get by."
Registrar Kane denied Butler bail, saying she posed an unacceptable risk to the community.
"She is very fortunate the occupants of the house she crashed into were not injured or killed," he said.
Butler will next appear in Wollongong Local Court on April 19.
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