A Mount Warrigal man reached speeds of 100km/h in school zones while leading police on a dangerous pursuit through Lake Illawarra suburbs, a court has heard.
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Adam Vincent Johnston, 39, who is disqualified from driving until 2063, was arrested a short distance from the car that was allegedly seen going around a corner on two wheels and veering onto the wrong side of the road.
He was refused bail in Wollongong Local Court on Friday.
Documents tendered to court said police were patrolling the Mount Warrigal area on Thursday about 2.50pm before they saw a Black Territory allegedly driven by Johnston.
Police activated lights and sirens in an attempt to stop the disqualified driver but Johnston allegedly accelerated harshly and they initiated a pursuit before turning onto Lake Entrance Road, Barrack Heights where an oncoming car had to take evasive action to avoid a collision with the Territory.
Johnston allegedly continued to drive along Barrack Heights streets, reaching speeds of 90km/h then 100km/h in 50km/h zones before also driving directly across a concrete roundabout on Ulster Avenue.
Police allege Johnston narrowly missed colliding with other cars and oncoming traffic before travelling at high speeds through Lake Illawarra and Warilla streets before crossing onto the other side of the road on Reddall Parade, Mount Warrigal.
Police allege Johnston continued to take evasive actions by taking sharp late turns through the back streets of Mount Warrigal in an attempt to loose pursing officers.
Johnston's car was allegedly emitting smoke from its front left wheel while he continued to drive well over the speed limit and crossed onto the incorrect side of the road, taking many turns onto different roads.
Police allege Johnston was travelling on Keross Avenue, Barrack Heights before making a sharp right-hand turn onto Daphne Street where the car went onto its two left side wheels at about a 45 degree angle.
The pursuit was terminated for safety reasons when Johnston allegedly approached a 40km/h school zone on Leawarra Avenue travelling at no less than 100km/h.
Johnston allegedly drove through two red lights on Leawarra Avenue and King Street, Lake Illawarra.
Up to 15 police cars were deployed throughout Warilla to stop Johnston, as well as PolAir.
A short time later, police allegedly received phone calls from residents claiming Johnston had run through a reserve and was hiding in the yard of a Landy Drive home, where documents were found in his name.
Patrols located Johnston running on Andrews Crescent, Mount Warrigal before he was chased and arrested.
At the police station, Johnston allegedly returned a positive drug test for meth. He denied any involvement in the pursuit and the Territory, however allegedly changed his story several times.
Johnston was charged with driving recklessly during a police pursuit and not stopping; using a registerable vehicle that did not display authorised number plates; driving a motor vehicle during a disqualification period; using an unregisterable motor vehicle on the road and using a vehicle with unauthroised number plates affixed.
On Friday, the court heard Johnston has numerous driving offences on his record, some of which has sent him to prison.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Amelia Wall said the alleged pursuit occurred in the afternoon in school zones in the presence of road users and pedestrians.
She said there was a "strong circumstantial case" against Johnston as the number plates originally belonged to a car registered in name of Johnston's sister and noted the tax documents that were found in Johnston's name.
Sgt Wall also said numerous residents reported seeing Johnston run through the reserve and he was arrested not far from the car.
Defence lawyer Graeme Morrison said his client strongly denied he was the driver, had employment starting next week, could live with his sister and there would be a delay before the charges could be defended.
Magistrate Gabriel Fleming refused to grant Johnston bail noting his "appalling" traffic record, that the alleged driving endangered people and there was a "fairly strong circumstantial case" against him.
The case will return to court on September 3.
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