A CAREER criminal accused of putting the lives of police officers and the public at risk during two high-speed pursuits around Ballarat, was yesterday refused bail.
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Shannon Coreless, 33, of Black Hill, appeared in Ballarat Magistrates Court where he faced a raft of charges, including failing to stop on police request, driving while disqualified, using an unregistered motor car and using false number plates.
Opposing Coreless’ bail application, Ballarat police criminal investigation unit Detective Senior Constable Phil Canny said Coreless was a threat to the police, the community and himself.
Detective Senior Constable Canny said Coreless allegedly first engaged police in a pursuit on December 6 last year when they tried to intercept him in an Alfredton street.
The court heard police were attempting to speak to Coreless over a warrant for his arrest when he allegedly reversed more than 200 metres down a street before driving directly at two officers who were on foot.
Detective Senior Constable Canny said the officers would have been hit had they not jumped out of the way.
The court heard Coreless allegedly engaged police in another pursuit only days later, this time reaching speeds more than 40km/h over the limit and driving on the wrong side of the Western Freeway.
The court heard this alleged pursuit ended after Coreless crashed into a parked car inside the Welcome Stranger Holiday Park in Brown Hill.
Detective Senior Constable Canny said it was lucky no one was injured or killed in the pursuits.
Refusing Coreless’ bail application, magistrate Cynthia Toose agreed with the detective, adding that Coreless has an “appalling disregard for public safety”.
Coreless was remanded to re-appear in Ballarat Magistrates Court on March 27 for a contested mention hearing.
