Repeat Offender Sentenced for Dangerous Police Pursuit
A 25-year-old man with an extensive criminal history has been sentenced to prison after leading police on a dangerous low-speed chase through Warrawong while riding a stolen motorbike and intimidating a woman in her home.
Leaum Doolan appeared before Wollongong Local Court where Magistrate David Williams handed down a 14-month prison sentence with a non-parole period of nine months for multiple offences committed in February and May this year.
Series of Criminal Incidents
The court heard that Doolan's crimes began in February when he attended a family member's home on two consecutive nights. According to agreed facts tendered to the court, Doolan yelled and damaged a wooden door while children were present in the home, leading to charges of intimidation and property damage.
Three months later in May, Highway Patrol officers spotted Doolan riding a stolen orange KTM motorcycle southbound on Lee Street in Warrawong around 2am. The motorcycle's owner had reported the vehicle stolen five days earlier after discovering his garage door broken and the bike missing.
Dangerous Police Pursuit
When police activated their warning lights and signaled Doolan to stop, he failed to pull over, initiating a pursuit. Despite travelling at only 40km/h in a 60km/h zone, Doolan crossed onto the wrong side of the road and mounted the kerb during the chase.
Officers noted the motorcycle appeared damaged and was experiencing mechanical issues before calling off the pursuit when Doolan turned into Cowper Street after cutting through a McDonald's car park on the corner of King Street and Northcliffe Drive.
Additional police units responded to search the area, eventually locating the abandoned stolen motorbike behind a unit complex in Todd Street. Doolan was spotted entering a unit in Greene Street, where he resisted officers during his arrest.
Checks with Transport for NSW confirmed Doolan was never licensed to drive.
Complex Background and Sentencing
Defence lawyer Tim McKenzie argued that rehabilitation and community support would benefit both Doolan and the wider community. However, Crown prosecutor Jacqueline Azad described the domestic violence offences as "short, but frightening" and emphasized the dangerous nature of the police pursuit.
Magistrate Williams noted Doolan's complex criminal record and significant personal challenges, including family tragedy, mental health issues, and an intellectual disability. The court heard Doolan had received support from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) but struggled to adapt to community life after extensive time in custody.
"In the past, he committed crimes so he could return to prison, where he understood the structures and routines," Magistrate Williams observed.
At the time of these offences, Doolan was on parole after serving prison time for a break-in, which was subsequently revoked. The magistrate found Doolan posed a significant risk of reoffending but was constrained by legislation limiting Local Court sentences to maximum five-year terms for offenders already serving jail time.
In addition to the prison sentence, Doolan was disqualified from driving for twelve months. His non-parole period expires in February, though his release will depend on the State Parole Authority as he continues serving the balance of his prior sentence.
