Teens charged after police chase

Three teenagers will face court over a vehicle theft and police pursuit from the Lake Macquarie area to the Central Coast on Tuesday, December 26.

Just after 12am on Boxing Day, officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District were patrolling the M1 at Freemans Waterhole, south of Newcastle, when they located and attempted to stop an Audi hatchback, allegedly stolen from a Sydney address earlier this month.

When the vehicle failed to stop, and a pursuit was initiated southward.

A short time later, police successfully deployed road spikes on the Central Coast Hwy and the vehicle came to a stop.

The driver, a 15-year-old girl, and her two female passengers, aged 14 and 15, were arrested before being taken to Gosford Police Station.

The 15-year-old driver was charged with police pursuit – not stop – drive recklessly, not stop vehicle when directed to do so, never licensed person drive vehicle on road, class A motor vehicle exceed speed faster than 45km/h, and drive conveyance taken without consent of owner.

Both passengers were charged with be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner.

The driver was granted conditional bail to appear at children’s court on December 28.

The younger passenger was granted conditional bail to appear at children’s court on Saturday, January 13, and the older passenger was granted conditional bail to appear at children’s court on Wednesday, January 10.