Mark Charles Gleeson bailed for alleged reckless driving with kids in car to escape cops, angry family members

Driving his three kids in a car with a shredded tyre while towing an SUV on the wrong side of the road in front of a triple road train was part of a Goldfields man’s attempt to escape police and angry family members, a court has been told. The details of Mark Charles Gleeson’s alleged December 7 offending were read in Kalgoorlie Magistrates Court on Monday when he appeared in custody for a bail application. The 41-year-old had been served with a family violence restraining order which extended to the child of his partner, whom he was living with, and he was given until noon to source alternative accommodation for the child. Later that day Mr Gleeson was allegedly driving a HiLux with one tyre shredded down to the rim and towing an SUV, which had a man in the driver’s seat, along Goldfields Highway near Ora Banda towards Kalgoorlie-Boulder. It’s claimed his partner and three children were in the car, and police say he was being followed by numerous cars containing family members with whom he was in dispute. Police attended and tried to pull him over, even pulling up alongside the car to tell him through the open window they would ensure his safety and resolve the matter if he stopped. Police say Mr Gleeson slowed the car but did not stop it, instead turning on to the wrong side of the road in front of a triple road train, which had to pull on to the narrow shoulder on the side of the road. Police say the car was driving at relatively low speeds and four additional police cars attended to help funnel him on to the gravel shoulder and box him in. The prosecution alleged he told police when he was arrested he did not think they were going to help him. Prosecuting Sgt Kate McDowell said whether the family members were chasing or “observing from a short distance” was up for interpretation, but Mr Gleeson did not have a licence after it was suspended when he was convicted of dangerous driving causing death. She did not oppose bail with strict conditions. Defence lawyer David Pawson had to prove exceptional circumstances for bail to be considered as Mr Gleeson was in a schedule two position. Mr Pawson said the police facts were exceptional in themselves as they pointed to allegations which were not “an ordinary run-of-the-mill offence”. Magistrate William Yoo said the prosecution’s case was “probably strong”, but granted bail with strict conditions including protective bail, urinalysis, reporting three times a week, and a condition that he not drive. Mr Gleeson was said to be heading to Perth, and will come back to the region in February when the matter returns to court. No pleas were entered to the charges of reckless driving to escape police pursuit, no authority to drive, driver failing to comply with a direction to stop, and breaching a family violence restraining order. 1800 RESPECT