A teen is back behind bars after allegedly running a red light and crashing into a car – ironically containing associates of his – while on bail accused of luxury car theft.
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Jermaine Goolagong, who a psychiatrist says is intellectually disabled and unfit to plead, was on strict bail conditions banning him from getting back behind the wheel of a car.
But police say on September 3, just hours after his latest court appearance, the Narrabundah man was again driving on Canberra roads.
Two associates dropped Goolagong off at his Narrabundah home about 4pm, the ACT Magistrates Court has been told.
Three hours later those same associates were stopped at the intersection of Ipswich Street and the Monaro Highway when Goolagong allegedly ran a red light, crossed into a bike lane, mounted a traffic island and ploughed into them.
Police today described the unfortunate coincidence as "somewhat ironic".
It is alleged the 18-year-old bailed from the car and fled the scene on foot, but not before the crash victims recognised him.
Despite several attempts to contact Goolagong in the aftermath of the crash police were unable to find him.
And the court today heard Goolagong has failed to report to police, as required by his bail conditions, since the day of the crash.
Goolagong is now facing fresh allegations of reckless driving, failing to give assistance after a crash, failing to give particulars after a crash, driving an unsafely maintained vehicle, driving an unregistered vehicle, driving an uninsured vehicle and being an unaccompanied learner driver.
He was already on charges of car theft, riding or driving a motor vehicle without consent, drug possession, aggravated burglary and theft.
The court previously heard four luxury or sports cars were stolen from Kingston and Kambah in July in April.
A Nissan Skyline was taken from outside a house in Kambah, while a Porsche Cayenne, a Porsche Boxster, and a Subaru Impreza WRX were taken from Kingston.
The court heard Goolagong and another, as yet unidentified person, broke into a house in Waygoose Street in Kingston last week while its three residents slept, stealing their car keys, house keys, wallets and an iPad.
The court heard Goolagong's DNA was matched to at T-shirt found in the Nissan Skyline stolen from Kambah, his fingerprints were found on the iPad in the Impreza and his learner driver's licence was found under the driver's seat of the Boxster.
Forensic psychiatrist Graham George has found Goolagong was unfit to plead, but the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has refused to concede the issue.
They will question Dr George's findings at a special hearing later this month, and it is expected they'll highlight the fact Goolagong was competent enough to secure a learner driver's licence.
Prosecutor Shane Drumgold earlier today asked Magistrate Bernadette Boss to review Goolagong's bail in light of the fresh allegations against him.
Defence lawyer Michael Lalor objected but the magistrate said she was "backed into a corner".
"While I don't think your client is a person who should ordinarily be in the [Alexander Maconochie Centre], for the public's safety and the interests of your client I don't see I have much choice,' Dr Boss said.
