Quick-thinking members of the public have been credited with detaining an alleged car thief at the scene of a serious head-on crash he is accused of causing in Canberra's inner south.
Court hears allegations of stolen vehicle spree
Joshua Slattery, a 36-year-old man from Coombs, faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday, January 12, 2026, following his arrest two days prior. He did not apply for bail and did not enter pleas to a series of charges.
The charges include one count of dangerous driving and two counts each of taking a motor vehicle without authority and driving a motor vehicle without consent.
Chaotic morning of alleged theft and collision
According to ACT Policing, the incident unfolded on the morning of Saturday, January 10. Officers were first alerted to reports of a stolen Skoda Scala being driven at speed and on the incorrect side of the road.
The vehicle, which police allege was taken without consent, was subsequently involved in a head-on collision with another car in the suburb of Yarralumla. It was at this point that witnesses intervened, physically preventing the driver from leaving the crash site before police arrived.
Slattery is also accused of stealing a second car earlier that same morning. Police allege he took a pair of keys from a locker at a gym in the Phillip precinct. This second vehicle was later located at a Woden shopping centre and returned to its rightful owner.
Legal process begins as accused remains in custody
With bail not sought, Slattery was remanded in custody following his brief court appearance. The matter has been adjourned, and he is scheduled to return to court at a later date.
The case highlights the immediate risks associated with the alleged theft and dangerous operation of motor vehicles, culminating in a serious collision that could have had far graver consequences.
