Pregnant teen allegedly drove 170km/h with baby in carMiklos BolzaAAPWed, 1 October 2025 12:01PM
A pregnant teenager accused of fleeing police in a high-speed pursuit while a baby was in the car has broken down after her bail was refused.
Kirsty Lee Parker, 19, was allegedly behind the wheel of a Volkswagen sedan when it was spotted by police going 168km/h in a 110km/h zone along the M1 motorway on Tuesday.
The high-speed pursuit commenced in Somersby on the NSW Central Coast before being temporarily called off by police.
The chase was later resumed in Swansea.
At one stage, a passenger was allegedly seen hanging out of the speeding vehicle, filming the chase.
WA’s biggest courts and crime stories to your inbox
Sign-up to our weekly newsletter for free
Sign up
Parker, who was on L-plates at the time, is alleged to have crashed into another car and twice avoided police road spikes by swerving around them.
Officers found the vehicle abandoned at Windale in Newcastle where they arrested the 19-year-old driver and her four passengers.
A 10-month-old baby was also found in the car.
Parker appeared in court by video-link, yawning and handcuffed from Newcastle police station on Wednesday.
It was Parker’s second appearance in court this week, having been sentenced to an 18-month community corrections order for shoplifting on Monday, magistrate Elizabeth Bushby noted.
The police prosecutor opposed a bid for bail, saying there was a risk Parker could pose further danger to the community.
Her criminal record also involved several driving offences, the court was told.
Legal aid lawyer Adam Ryan argued for her release, saying she would be vulnerable in custody because of her age and as an Aboriginal woman.
She was also 11 weeks’ pregnant, the court was told.
Mr Ryan proposed that she live at an address in Seven Hills in Sydney, be subject to a curfew and be barred from getting behind the wheel of a vehicle.
Police had a strong case against Parker but there were weaknesses, he argued.
“The police did see her getting out of the driver’s door – however, nothing in the facts says she was actually seen driving the vehicle,” he said.
Ms Bushby accepted Parker would be vulnerable.
But she refused bail due to the alleged pursuit occurring the day after the shoplifting sentence.
“No, please, I need to go home,” Parker responded, crying before she was led away by police officers.
“I will take anything, please, house arrest, anything, please.”
She has been charged with exceeding the speed limit by 45km/h while a learner driver, driving with two passengers unrestrained, permitting a passenger to put part of their body outside a window or door, driving recklessly or furiously, and failing to comply with a police direction to stop the vehicle.
The 19-year-old has not entered any pleas.
Her case will next come before Gosford Local Court on October 8.
Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.
Sign up for our emails
Read more on The West Australian
