A BENDIGO man was found passed out in a stolen car just two months after he led the police air wing on a chase around Melbourne, a court has heard.
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Grantley Foster, 45, appeared in the Bendigo Magistrates' Court on Thursday where he pleaded guilty to 12 charges including evading police.
The court heard on August 13, officers saw Foster riding a Yamaha motorbike along William Street in the Melbourne city centre.
Officers activated their lights and sirens near the intersection of Lonsdale Street, outside of the Melbourne Magistrates' Court, in an effort to pull Foster over.
But the 45-year-old sped off down William Street. The officers pulled out of the chase and called the police air wing.
The air wing monitored Foster as he travelled around the city and Melbourne's outer suburbs for several hours.
The 45-year-old was eventually arrested about 1.05am the next day after CCTV caught Foster parking the motorbike at an address in Hardware Lane.
Foster, who did not hold a motorbike licence, was also breaching the Chief Health Officer's COVID-19 lockdown orders at the time of the offending.
During his police interview, Foster said he "freaked the f*** out" when the officers tried to pull him over. He was released pending summons.
The court heard on October 5, police were called to Williamson Street in Bendigo amid reports of a man slumped in a car.
Officers went and found Foster alone in the vehicle. The wagon and the registration plates fixed to the vehicle were outstanding stolen items.
Foster was arrested at the scene and the car keys were found in his possession.
The court heard the car was dirty and Foster's personal items were strewn throughout the vehicle. Foster asked to have his personal items collected and brought to a friend.
Officers then found a small bag containing 0.99 grams of methamphetamine, scales, and drug paraphernalia.
Foster was taken to the Bendigo Police Station for questioning. He told police he did not know that the car was stolen as it was given to him by an associate.
Defence lawyer Thomas Smedley told the court Foster had previously been on community correction orders but had been complying poorly due to his drug issues.
Mr Smedley said the 45-year-old had abstained from illicit substances during his 59 days of pre-sentence detention.
The defence lawyer submitted that Foster had been deemed suitable for the Court Integrated Services Program so he could have a deferral of sentence.
That would allow the 45-year-old to show that he could comply with court orders, Mr Smedley said.
Magistrate Megan Aumair said she would defer sentence and release Foster on bail.
But Ms Aumair warned the 45-year-old that if he did not engage with the CISP program, then he would be back in custody.
"Look at this as a fresh start," the magistrate said.
Foster is due to return to the Bendigo Magistrates' Court next month. His licence was cancelled from Thursday and he was disqualified from driving for six months.
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