Accused a danger

AN unlicensed driver evaded police by speeding towards a Corio school crossing on the wrong side of the road about 8.30am yesterday, a court has heard.

Police told the Geelong Magistrates’ Court they abandoned their pursuit of Bell Park man William McCormick because his driving was so dangerous.

The offence on Bacchus Marsh Rd seven hours after Mr McCormick — who was on five sets of bail at the time — was pulled over and charged with unlicensed driving, the court also heard.

The 29-year-old handed himself in to the Corio police station yesterday, and conducted his own bail application.

He told the court the car he committed his alleged offences in belonged to his mother, but she would sell it to ensure he did not drive again.

“You can crush the car if you want,” he later told Magistrate Ann McGarvie when his bail application was denied.

Senior Constable Terry Hill said he and a colleague saw the applicant’s mother’s station wagon parked outside a Corio home yesterday.

Aware Mr McCormick was arrested at 1.30am, they waited nearby for a few minutes until the car left the address.

Once they confirmed he was driving, they activated their lights and siren. But SenConstable Hill said the Holden sped off, veering on to the wrong side of the road to pass vehicles, and rounding a corner at 90km/h before it reached the school crossing.

“It was getting too dangerous,” the officer said.

With a swag of prior driving convictions, Mr McCormick was likely to reoffend if granted bail, Sen-Constable Hill argued.

Ms McGarvie agreed, ordering he stay in custody, with a return to court scheduled for September 15.