Police chase pair up range

TWO of four people charged in relation to the alleged theft of a vehicle in the Lockyer Valley followed by a dramatic police pursuit up the Range to Toowoomba have had their matters mentioned in court.

Travis Peter Holborn, 29, and Nikeasha Lea Holland, 35, were charged after a dramatic arrest in Toowoomba’s CBD on Monday.

Police claim a Toyota HiLux ute was stolen from a Laidley residence in the early hours of Monday with police receiving reports of the vehicle in different locations driving at high speed and on the wrong side of the road.

About 8.30am, the vehicle was allegedly driven straight at a police vehicle on Stone Gully Road in Coolana, forcing officers to swerve to avoid collision. A police helicopter was called to track the ute as it drove along the Warrego Highway towards Toowoomba, allegedly driving dangerously at high speed.

The vehicle was then abandoned on Sixth Ave in Toowoomba, with the two occupants picked up by two other people allegedly driving a black Toyota Rav 4.

Police allege that vehicle was driven dangerously, crossing onto the wrong side of the road and through a service station before it was tracked by Polair into the carpark of a shopping centre in Toowoomba’s CBD. Four occupants left the vehicle and ran into a shopping centre where police arrested them.

Holborn was charged with three counts of dangerous operation of a vehicle and one count each of burglary, receiving tainted property, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, possess dangerous drugs, driving unlicensed, driving uninsured, driving unregistered and offence to possess medicines.

He was taken to Toowoomba Hospital where he remained while duty solicitor Claire Graham, of Skuse Graham Lawyers, told Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Tuesday she believed Holborn was on a return to prison warrant and would not be applying for bail.

Holland remained in the watch house when her charges – which include two counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and one count each of burglary and possess tainted property – were mentioned.

Ms Graham sought her matters be adjourned with Holborn’s to Wednesday.

A third accused, a 27-yearold Toowoomba woman, charged with similar matters was bailed to appear in the same court on September 1.

A 15-year-old Rockville boy charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle will front the Toowoomba Children’s Court later this week.