A MAN who allegedly led police on a pursuit from Charlestown to Jesmond in a stolen Lexus on Tuesday afternoon has been refused bail in Maitland Local Court.
Colin Calgaret, 21, of Wallsend, appeared in court in handcuffs on Friday charged with 26 fraud, break-in and traffic offences, including police pursuit, aggravated break and enter and being armed with intent to commit indictable offence.
He did not enter any pleas, but made a failed bid to be released on conditional bail.
Lake Macquarie police say they have been investigating a number of offences relating to break-ins, stolen motor vehicles, the theft of petrol and pursuits with police.
Following inquiries, police attempted to stop a Lexus - stolen from a home at Merewether on April 11 - at Charlestown about 3.30pm on Tuesday.
The Lexus failed to stop and police launched a pursuit before it had to be terminated due to safety concerns.
Police monitored the Lexus as it travelled through Lambton, Broadmeadow, Waratah and surrounding suburbs until about 5pm when it was found abandoned at a shopping centre on Blue Gum Road at Jesmond.
The Lexus was seized and forensically examined and police appealed for information to identify and find the driver.
Following inquiries, police went to a cafe at Morpeth about 11am on Thursday and arrested Mr Calgaret.
The 21-year-old, who was on bail and disqualified from driving at the time of the pursuit, had allegedly been using the stolen Lexus to commit a number of break-ins and fraud offences.
Meanwhile, a boy, 14, was arrested on Thursday and charged by detectives investigating a spate of break-ins and stolen motor vehicles since January this year.
