Shepparton man allegedly drove at speeds estimated up to 150km/h in police chase

Stephen Bextream, 33, of Shepparton, unsuccessfully applied for bail in the Shepparton Magistrates’ Court.

He is charged with dangerous driving while being pursued by police, reckless conduct endangering life, failing to stop a vehicle on police direction, two counts of disqualified driving, and driving an unregistered vehicle.

Shepparton Crime Investigation Unit Detective Senior Constable Scott Begbie told the court Mr Bextream was driving at speeds estimated to be up to 150km/h on Raftery Rd, Kialla, when being pursued by police on Monday, November 18.

Mr Bextream didn’t stop for police, who were following him with their lights on, and he overtook other vehicles, including his partner in a separate car, Sen Constable Begbie said.

Mr Bextream was also speeding, and did not slow down to check for oncoming traffic when driving over a single-lane one-way bridge with an advisory speed of 10km/h in Raftery Rd, the court heard.

After being pursued by police, he drove to Barooga in NSW and had booked in accommodation for a couple of nights, Sen Constable Begbie said.

Police found him in a car park in Cobram later that day.

Sen Constable Begbie said Mr Bextream admitted to police he had used methamphetamines and was driving, but “downplayed” the speed, telling them he was driving at the speed limit the whole time, and at 70km/h over the bridge in Raftery Rd.

When police arrested Mr Bextream, he was on a community corrections order from the County Court after being released from prison in September, for similar charges that involved ramming a police car.

Sen Constable Begbie opposed bail, saying Mr Bextream was a “flight risk” and had a “history of placing the public at risk” with his dangerous driving, and had gone to “extreme lengths” to avoid apprehension.

He also had no stable address, telling police he was couch-surfing after being released from prison, the court heard.

Mr Bextream’s defence solicitor, Ian Michaelson, also argued the speed police alleged may not be correct because they were estimates made by officers and no speed measuring device was used.

He also said after Mr Bextream overtook his partner, her car could have been between his vehicle and police at all times, obstructing their view of how fast he was driving, and he could have thought the lights weren’t for him.

Mr Michaelson also told the court his client had mental health issues, including anxiety and depression, and that he had strong connections to the Aboriginal community in Shepparton.

Magistrate Olivia Trumble acknowledged Mr Michaelson’s submissions, but said Mr Bextream had “clearly evaded police in some form”.

Ms Trumble refused bail, and said the “nail in the coffin” was Mr Bextream not engaging with his community corrections order.

He will next appear in court in December.