A teenage girl who repeatedly sped away from police during pursuits, reaching more than 200km/h, has been refused bail.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Annaliese Kirchen, 19, was in tears as she told Wangaratta Magistrates Court about her need to seek rehabilitation for an ice addiction, then could be heard screaming at the top of her lungs as she was led back into custody.
The series of pursuits started on November 5 when Kirchen allegedly drove at 110km/h in a 60km/h zone on the wrong side of the road through Benalla before officers called off the chase.
“I can’t remember, get the proof,” she told police.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Brendan Tyrrell said officers expected to charge her over the incident and another pursuit on December 27.
He said she allegedly drove at more than 200km/h in a 100km/h zone at Killawarra, while travelling on the wrong side of the road near other cars.
Three days later yet another police pursuit was called off through Wangaratta when her driving became too dangerous.
She had allegedly stolen a car from a middle-aged woman who left the keys in the ignition when going to pay for petrol at a Melbourne 7-Eleven on November 21, then later crashed it on the Hume Freeway in Glenrowan.
Police also charged Kirchen with a series of thefts, and she was banned from attending Wangaratta, Alpine and Moira shires while on bail.
Senior Constable Tyrrell said her ice addiction led to the crime spree.
“The accused is a prolific offender and has numerous priors,” he said.
“She’s placed the public in danger, any passenger in her car in danger. If she does not crash her car and kill herself, it will be someone else in the community.”
Kirchen was eventually arrested at her sister’s Wangaratta home on January 19, hiding from police in the bedroom cupboard.
She was not represented by a lawyer in court on Monday and applied for bail herself, standing in the dock of the court in handcuffs.
“I may have stuffed up some bails in the past,” she said. “I am going to comply with the bail I’ve been given – I understand I’ve said that before, but I just want to get out.”
Magistrate Peter Mithen said the way Kirchen had behaved when granted bail in the past was disappointing.
“I believe to release her today would be a risk of further offending and place a danger onto the community,” he said.
The case was adjourned for a week.