Bendigo learner driver denied bail after allegedly speeding, evading police

A prosecutor told the Bendigo Magistrates' Court he feared someone would be killed if the man was released.

Kennington resident Brenton Matthews, 22, made the bail application in court on Tuesday. He has been charged with offences including speeding and dangerous driving.

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The court heard about 1.05am on March 20 this year, police allegedly saw Mr Matthews driving a red Mitsubishi in the Kangaroo Flat area.

Police said Mr Matthews, who currently holds a learner's permit, was travelling along Helm Street at about 80km/h in a 50km/h zone.

The court heard when police performed a u-turn to intercept Mr Matthews, he turned his headlights off and accelerated away at 141km/h in a 50km/h zone.

Police pulled out of the chase due to concerns for community safety.

The court heard Mr Matthews' car registration had allegedly expired, there were no L plates displayed on the vehicle, and there was no experienced driver present in the car.

About 3.40am on March 21, officers allegedly saw Mr Matthews driving the same car along Edwards Road in Kennington.

Police alleged Mr Matthews initially stopped the car when officers tried to intercept him, before speeding off and crossing into oncoming lanes of traffic.

The court heard officers went to a Kennington address on March 22 and saw Mr Matthews' car parked in the driveway.

Mr Matthews identified himself to the police but the officers didn't question him at that time.

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Police returned to the address the next day and spoke to the accused. The court heard he told officers he had not driven the car, but police impounded the Mitsubishi.

Police alleged on the morning of April 1, officers saw Mr Matthews driving a white Holden sedan along the Calder Highway in Maiden Gully with no L plates displayed.

Officers tried to intercept the vehicle but Mr Matthews allegedly sped off at 111km/h in 40km/h zone.

The court heard on the afternoon of April 4, police saw Mr Matthews driving the same sedan in the Quarry Hill area. He allegedly accelerated at 114km/h in a 60km/h to avoid police.

On April 9, the accused allegedly accelerated away from police again when they saw him driving in the Kennington area.

About 30 minutes later, Mr Matthews was seen leaving a shop and getting into a car in Eaglehawk.

The court heard officers performed a u-turn to stop Mr Matthews but he allegedly sped off at 80km/h in a 60/h zone.

Police alleged Mr Matthews crossed into oncoming lanes of traffic and almost collided with other vehicles.

About 1.40pm that day, police went to Mr Matthews' address in Kennington.

He came out to speak to police but when officers tried to arrest him, Mr Matthews allegedly ran.

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The court heard another officer was able to stop Mr Matthews after he came up behind him in a police car.

The officer tackled Mr Matthews to the ground when he tried to run again. The court heard it took several officers to restrain and arrest the 22-year-old.

Mr Matthews' vehicle, which was towed, had no working brakes.

Prosecutor Senior Constable Dave Rennie told the court police were opposing bail because Mr Matthews was an unacceptable risk to the community.

"This man will kill someone if he's released on bail," he said. "It's as bad driving as I've seen in some years."

Defence lawyer Nicholas Rolfe told the court police did not have evidence that Mr Matthews was the person driving the car during the alleged offending.

Mr Rolfe said police "connected the dots" after they found the offending car at his address.

"We say the prosecution's case is not overwhelming," the defence lawyer said.

But Magistrate Russell Kelly told the court the charges were "very, very serious" and there were at least three occasions where police sufficiently identified Mr Matthews as the driver.

"On those three alone, it's enough to show unacceptable risk," Mr Kelly said.

The magistrate refused Mr Matthews' application for bail. He was instead remanded in custody and is due to return to court next month.

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