A man has been remanded in custody after allegedly leading police on a chase in Batemans Bay on the weekend.
20-year-old Christopher Carraige pleaded guilty to six offences in Batemans Bay Local Court yesterday including stealing a car, never licensed to drive and being involved in a police pursuit – fail to stop – drive dangerously.
Police spokesperson Melissa Russell said officers detected the allegedly stolen sedan early on Saturday morning being driven south on Heron Road at Catalina.
“When the driver allegedly failed to stop when directed, a pursuit was commenced,” she said.
“Police will allege the car reached speeds of up to 120km/h in an 80km/h-signposted area and crossed to the wrong side of the road.
“Officers followed the car through a number of streets in Catalina, before the driver lost control at the intersection of Heron Road and Gannet Place and struck a hatchback parked outside a home in Heron Road, Catalina. The crash caused extensive damage to both cars. No one was inside the vehicle.
“Police will allege that, as the sedan continued down the road, the driver jumped from the moving vehicle, before it struck a vacant utility parked in a driveway.
“Five minutes later, officers attached to Traffic and Highway Patrol Command arrested the man in a garage of a nearby home.”
The 20-year-old man was taken to Batemans Bay Hospital for mandatory testing.
Police claim the sedan was stolen from a home in Bent Street in Catalina between 5pm on Thursday 31 July and 8am on Friday 1 August 2025.
Carraige didn’t apply for bail during his brief court appearance and it was formally refused.
He’ll be sentenced next month.
