IT'S Christmas behind bars for the man accused of attempting to carjack of police, stealing another car at knifepoint, and injuring three officers during a wild spree on Wednesday.
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Dennis Bradley Shillingsworth yelled profanities from the dock in Tamworth Local Court on Friday morning, after he was denied bail.
The outburst led to magistrate Julie Soars leaving the bench after her bail determination, and the 39-year-old being taken into custody.
The court heard there was body-worn video from police, in-car video and CCTV of the alleged crime spree through South Tamworth between 5pm and 6pm.
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Shillingsworth still has a hand and head injury after his arrest in Vera Street, after two cars caught alight, the fire spreading to a garage and destroying all three.
The court heard Shillingsworth was facing charges for matters on November 4, and on Wednesday.
"He wasn't apprehended until the 18th of December for those offences," police prosecutor Senior Sergeant Matt Pawsey told the court, pointing "to page 51 of his record".
Sergeant Pawsey opposed bail and said there were unacceptable risks that Shillingsworth would: fail to appear "by his record"; commit further serious offences; and endanger the safety of victims, witnesses and the community.
"He has numerous records of breach of bail," he said.
"He was on a CCO [community corrections order] that appears on page 47 of his record."
He told the court there were "two sets of offending" involving serious matters and "Mr Shillingsworth was unable to be located".
"He is unavoidably facing a full-time custodial sentence [if convicted]," Sergeant Pawsey said.
The bail application
Aboriginal Legal Service solicitor Charlotte Pascall said she wasn't ready to enter any pleas to the string of charges.
"I'm not in a position to move the matter forward; I'm only instructed to make a bail application," she said.
Miss Pascall said her client could go straight to Brewarrina, where he's from; he "has family support there".
She said he could report daily to police; not enter Tamworth unless for court; not approach witnesses or victims; not occupy a driver's seat; and undertake drug and alcohol counselling. She also offered a $20,000 surety without security.
Sergeant Pawsey said there were "no conditions that can be put in place" to mitigate the risks, adding that there were warrants for his arrest on his record from 2018 and 2019.
Ms Soars said there was an allegation of "repeat offending", which increased the risk Shillingsworth would not comply with bail orders despite the "strong conditions" offered.
"I have to refuse him bail," she said.
The 39-year-old is accused of an armed carjacking of a Holden Captiva; driving in a dangerous manner through Woodward Avenue and Susanne, Edward and Vera streets; attempting to steal a motorbike in Vera Street; assaulting a senior constable causing soreness to his face and an injured right shoulder; resisting three senior constables; attempted use of an offensive weapon with intent to prevent arrest; and aggravated carjacking of a police officer's official marked car while he was in it, causing actual bodily harm.
Shillingsworth will return to court in January.
Breanna Chillingworth
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
