A Wodonga man who took Albury police on a late-night pursuit got away after he sped across the Lincoln Causeway on the wrong side of the road.
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Che Michael Kennedy had sped-off from the BP service station on Wodonga Place in such a hurry that a fuel hose was still connected to the car.
But the car wasn’t even his, Albury Local Court heard on Monday, having been stolen a couple of days earlier from the driveway of a house in Orchard Way, Hamilton Valley.
Kennedy’s solicitor told magistrate Imad Abdul-Karim that Kennedy was pleading guilty to a second offence of police pursuit and a second offence of driving while disqualified.
But he intended pleading not guilty to a charge of driving conveyance taken without the consent of owner.
With that Mr Abdul-Karim ordered that the brief of evidence on that third charge be completed by March 11, with the matter adjourned for mention on March 25 for the setting of a hearing date.
Kennedy though strongly objected, speaking over Mr Abdul-Karim and his lawyer via a video link to Junee jail.
“No, I want to plead guilty,” he said.
Kennedy repeated his wish several times, having decided he wanted his sentencing on all matters completed.
The court was told Kennedy had an “extensive criminal history” in both NSW and Victoria, especially involving incidents “of a serious and violent nature”.
“The accused,” police said, “clearly has no care or regard for any law or restriction put on him.”
The victim’s car, Mr Abdul-Karim was told, was stolen on the night of October 15 and it was on the 17th that Kennedy was seen driving the vehicle into the BP.
It was late so he was told he had to pre-pay for his $20 of fuel, but both cards he had were declined.
He returned to the car, retrieved $20 in coins and went back in to the shop, while an unidentified accomplice kept trying to pump fuel.
Kennedy took off at speed on seeing the police, leading them on a pursuit along Townsend and Nurigong streets before crossing the border.
His licence was under disqualification until July 24.
Kennedy will be sentenced on April 10.
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