Woman charged with Range dash

The Chronicle/July 30, 2003
By Alyshia Gates

A Helidon woman has been barged with dangerous driving after she allegedly led police on a pursuit up the Toowoomba Range yesterday morning.

Christina Marie Delahunty, 39, allegedly failed to pull over when directed to by police at a road traffic operation on the Warrego High-ray at Withcott at 10.26 AM.

It is alleged after the initial pursuit, which took only a few minutes, the woman refused to get out of the vehicle and remained inside for 53 minutes from the start time.

Sergeant Viv Nolan, of Toowoomba police, said police were intercepting vehicles as part of the operation when she failed to stop.

Delahunty was followed by a police vehicle which had its sirens and lights activated.

It will be alleged the woman was the sole occupant of the vehicle, which did not exceed the speed limit during the pursuit.

"She was intercepted in Margaret Street, however she refused to abide by police directions," Sergeant Nolan said.

"After some time she was taken into police custody and questioned for the offence of dangerous driving... because initially police had to jump out of the way when she refused to stop."

It is alleged Delahunty shook her head at police while driving up the Range, indicating she had no intention of stopping.

A handcuffed Delahunty made a brief appearance in Toowoomba Magistrates Court yesterday afternoon.

Asked by magistrate Mr Bruce Schemioneck if she was the Christina Marie Delahunty named in the warrant, she replied that she preferred to be addressed as "Secured Party" and that she did not recognise the jurisdiction of the court.

Mr Schemioneck remanded her in custody to appear back in the same court this morning.