Man and woman charged following pursuits

A man and woman were due to face court on Monday following several pursuits across the Oxley Police District in an alleged stolen car at the weekend.

Just after 6am on Sunday, a council worker was routinely opening up public toilets in Kelly Street, Scone, when a man allegedly jumped in his Isuzu D-Max utility and drove off.

The owner immediately reported the theft to police who commenced inquiries.

At about 9.40am, officers from the Narrabri Highway Patrol noticed the Isuzu travelling on the Kamilaroi Highway and initiated a pursuit, following the car to Mullaley and then to Manilla, where they lost sight of the utility.

Shortly after, police received a report the occupants had failed to pay for petrol at Manilla before sighting the Isuzu travelling along Fossickers Way towards Tamworth.

Police engaged in a further pursuit, however, it was terminated due to safety concerns.

Officers successfully deployed road spikes at Appleby Lane, causing a tyre to deflate.

The vehicle continued driving into a property on Meldorn Lane where the driver, a 27-year-old man, and passenger, a 31-year-old woman, were arrested and taken to Tamworth Police Station.

The man was charged with take and drive conveyance without consent of owner, three counts of police pursuit-not stop-drive recklessly, drive while disqualified, three counts of drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous, drive under the influence of alcohol, and refuse or fail to submit to taking of blood sample.

The woman was charged with be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner and dishonestly obtain property by deception.

They were both refused bail and were expected to appear in Tamworth Local Court on Monday.