By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
AN accused serial bail-dodger has been captured by police after crashing an allegedly stolen car and refusing a breath test in Endeavour Hills.
Mother of three Tania Jayne Weatherley, of Endeavour Hills, who was facing at least 18 charges, was refused bail at a Dandenong Magistrates’ Court hearing on 8 August.
Weatherley had allegedly crashed as she tried to drive around a vehicle stopped at a red light at a Heatherton Road intersection about 4.15pm on 3 August.
Nominal informant Sergeant Kerrie Bourke of Dandenong police told the court there was “substantial” damage to both cars.
When police arrived at the scene, Weatherley was allegedly unable to provide a driver’s licence and falsely identified herself using her sister’s name.
She refused to answer questions, get out of the car or to go to a police station to provide a breath test, the court was told.
The vehicle she drove was affixed with a number plate stolen from a car in Endeavour Hills the day before, Sgt Bourke said.
She was later arrested at a caravan in Endeavour Hills. Another allegedly stolen car was parked outside with a number plate stolen from Reservoir a week earlier, the court was told.
Weatherley had been on bail facing 18 charges laid by six different police officers at the time.
Over the previous year, she was the subject of 24 arrest warrants for failing to appear in court while on bail. She had eight prior convictions for not turning up to court.
Sgt Bourke told the court Weatherley was a self-confessed drinker of five litres of cask wine a day.
The informant described the accused as “almost homeless”, given she lived in a damaged caravan without running water or plumbing.
Weatherley, who represented herself, told the court she had borrowed the first vehicle for 15 minutes to get food.
She told the court she was on Seroquel medication that had deterred her from drinking “for a long time”.
“That girl I hit on the side – it wasn’t a lot of damage. She braked really hard and the car I had was older (and couldn’t brake in time).”
She told the court she’d been jailed for three months “not long ago”.
“I’ve got three kids that need to see me home, and I had one not long ago.
“I know I did the wrong thing. I can do harsh conditions – sign in daily at the police station and do breath tests.”
Magistrate Gerard Bryant noted Weatherley had appeared to have breached her bail conditions of not driving and not drinking alcohol.
“If you’re drinking alcohol and driving cars you’re not only a risk for yourself but everybody else on the road.
“I’ve got no confidence at all you’ll show up for bail under any conditions.”
Weatherley was remanded to appear at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 10 August.
