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SYDNEY - A man accused of going on a rampage in an armoured personnel carrier (APC) in Sydney has been refused bail.
John Robert Patterson, 45, allegedly led officers on a 90-minute chase through six suburbs in Sydney's west as he crashed the privately-owned APC through fences, mobile phone towers, telecommunication relay sheds and an electrical substation at about 2am (AEST) yesterday.
The man from Dharruk, in Sydney's west, was arrested after the APC stalled on its way to damaging a seventh property, police said.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported the man is a former technician for Telstra telecommunications company.
He was refused bail in Parramatta Bail Court when he appeared later in the day.
Defence lawyer Ivan Bertoia told the court that Patterson claimed "that certainly he had authority to behave in such a manner".
In refusing bail, the magistrate recommended that Patterson, who had facial lacerations and a swollen left eye, receive medical and psychiatric attention.
The hearing was adjourned to Penrith local court on Monday.
Mobile phone services where the chase occurred were disrupted while technicians waited to gain entry to the crime scenes, police said.
Police on patrol had noticed the APC allegedly being used to destroy an electricity substation and followed the carrier through the suburbs of Mt Druitt, Dharruk, Emerton, Glendenning and Plumpton.
The pursuit ended in Dean Park when the vehicle stalled as it was being driven towards another mobile phone tower, police said.
Police arrested Patterson and charged him with numerous offences including malicious damage, break, enter and steal, predatory driving, possession of a prohibited drug, use of a weapon to avoid apprehension and driving in a dangerous manner.
- AAP
