A man allegedly stole his father's turbo car then drove toward police during a pursuit before crashing into a tree on Sunday.
John Jakob Tokich, 27, fronted the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday charged with five driving-related offences: aggravated reckless driving, failing to stop for police, driving while disqualified, stealing a car, and drug driving.
The prosecution's alleged facts state that about 11pm on Sunday, police saw a grey Ford Falcon ute parked on Barak Court, Ngunnawal.
Two males who were changing a tyre on the Falcon told police they did not drive as they had no licences.
About 20 minutes later, police saw the same vehicle, which the court heard was an XR6 Turbo variant, elsewhere in the same suburb with Tokich the alleged driver and sole occupant.
After police activated their warning lights, Tokich allegedly drove up a gutter and onto a nature strip to try to evade police.
The vehicle lost traction before spinning 180 degrees.
The defendant then allegedly sped towards a police vehicle before losing control of his car and crashing into a tree.
He tried to run away, before being caught about 50 metres away.
"The defendant stated he has used 'meth' about three hours prior," the alleged facts state.
Tokich, of Taylor, was on a suspended sentence and an 18-month good behaviour order at the time.
"Further investigations revealed the man was driving his father's vehicle without his consent," police allege.
In court on Monday, a prosecutor argued against bail, saying it was a serious example of this type of offending because he put others at risk, "noting the suburban street".
The prosecutor said it appeared the defendant had ongoing and unaddressed issues with illicit substance use and that him being on conditional liberty had not deterred him.
"[His] criminal history comprises entirely of like offending and primarily occurred in 2021," she said.
Defence lawyer Ewan Small said the risks of bail could be addressed with appropriate conditions, including the defendant having no contact with his father and not to drive.
Mr Small said his client's work as a machine operator and concreter would be a protective factor to prevent him being charged with further offences.
Magistrate Ken Archer refused bail, saying the "prosecution case seems to be strong to the point of being overwhelming".
"The manner of driving was serious and involved significant risks to himself, to the police, and to the community generally," Mr Archer said.
The magistrate also cited the defendant's conditional liberty.
"That threat hanging over his head did not ameliorate his behaviour significantly," Mr Archer said.
"He's got a history of offending of like crime and the offending is quite recent," he said.
The defendant was seen shaking his head. The case is set for return on October 24.
