Trio face court after North Bendigo operation

Ashley Backer, 32, Renee Gray, 28, and Daniel Simmonds, 35, appeared in the Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on Monday, after being taken into custody when heavily-armed tactical police surrounded the Smith Street house on Friday.

Mr Backer’s alleged offences include ice trafficking, car theft, dangerous driving while being pursued by police and driving at double the speed limit in Castlemaine and North Bendigo.

In a period of three days earlier this month, police allege Mr Backer stole a Holden Rodeo ute valued at $1500 and a Ford Falcon sedan valued at $1500, after also stealing a Holden station wagon valued at $8000 in December last year.

In a 24-hour period on New Year’s Eve 2016, Mr Backer allegedly refused to stop at a booze bus, drove at 140 km/h in Nolan Street and failed to stop when directed by police at a time when he was disqualified from driving.

Days earlier on Christmas Eve, Mr Backer also allegedly drove dangerously while being pursued by police in Macedon after refusing to stop when directed.

Prosecutor Richard Epskamp told the court police had seen Mr Backer at a property in East Bendigo on July 13, with Ms Gray, but both left the area before they could be apprehended.

Leading Senior Constable Epskamp said officers found a purse on a bed in that house with a black case inside it with the words “Renee crack pack” and “Nee-Nee's pipe only” written on it, along with an ice pipe and a quantity of pills.

Police also allege Ms Gray attempted to enter the Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on March 27 with two knives in her bag before being stopped by security guards.

Days earlier, on March 23, Leading Senior Constable Epskamp said police observed Ms Gray driving a maroon Ford sedan on High Street Bendigo, hours after appearing in court charged with driving without a licence.

Ms Gray's solicitor Robert Timms said his client had been “hunted from pillar to post” due to her alleged association with two other men police had been tracking, along with Mr Backer.

Mr Timms said Ms Gray accepted she was “addicted to ice” and wanted to get clean, saying she would live with her grandmother and agree not to associate with the men if granted bail.

“It's a fair step along the road for a person to say 'I am addicted and I need help' and that's where she is,” he said.

Magistrate Sarah Leighfield ordered Ms Gray be assessed for eligibility in a Court Integrated Services Program before returning to court on August 1.

Ms Leighfield said the extra time in custody would provide Ms Gray with an opportunity to “further detox” and the assistance program would help “get you back on track and try and get your issues under control”.

Mr Backer did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody to again face court on September 12.

Mr Simmonds did not apply for bail and will return to court on August 17.