By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A driver barred from driving as part of his bail has been arrested after allegedly leading police on a fast car-chase through Endeavour Hills.
Andrew Gianforte, of Carrum Downs, had been seen accelerating at a “fast rate of speed” near the corner of Hanna Drive and Heatherton Road on Monday 15 July, police told Dandenong Magistrates’ Court.
Police allegedly chased his vehicle south onto Matthew Flinders Avenue.
At rapid speed, his vehicle went onto the wrong side of the road as it entered a roundabout and turned west at Monkhouse Drive.
He narrowly avoided cars approaching the roundabout, according to police.
Gianforte parked the car less than 100 metres away in Thurmood Court, where he got out and walked away from the car.
Police said he didn’t provide a drivers’ license when asked. He was arrested as he tried to flee back into the vehicle.
Police seized prescription medications from a cooler bag in the front seat. Gianforte was arrested on site, and blew a 0.105 blood-alcohol reading – more than twice the legal limit.
He was charged with dangerous driving and other driving offences, as well as possessing prescription medication without a prescription.
The court was told that Gianforte was a disqualified driver at the time, who was barred from driving or using drugs as part of his bail conditions.
He had pending charges of trafficking meth, as well as possession of prescription drugs and controlled weapons to be heard at Ringwood Magistrates Court on 31 July.
Gianforte, who represented himself, told the bail hearing on 16 July that “I did make a mistake with the driving” and that he’d panicked.
He argued for bail because he was getting “good results” on the CISP program as well as needing to support ailing loved-ones.
“I don’t believe I’m a risk.”
Magistrate Ian McGrane said he wasn’t satisfied that Gianforte met the “exceptional circumstances” test for bail.
He said the accused had shown a “complete disregard to conditions of bail”, and was a risk to the public.
“Your driving, on the evidence before the court, was abysmal – you were affected by alcohol at the least.”
Gianforte was remanded for a represented bail hearing at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 29 July.
