Driver Wrangled by Police at Stockman’s Challenge

FAGAIN Maureen McMulkin-Faithful, the 27 year old female driver from Broken Hill, who was the subject of a police pursuit yesterday afternoon in Murrurundi, sparked a police search and was found at the King of the Ranges, appeared in Muswellbrook local court today, pleading guilty to 29 charges.

Ms McMulkin-Faithful, had refuelled her white Great Wall utility at the BP Service Station in Scone yesterday at approximately 5:43pm and left without paying the $74.34 owed.

The service attendant recorded a partial number plate ad reported to the matter to police.

Police had already received complaints about the vehicle, with South Australian number plates, for failing to stop for a red light near Muswellbrook, driving erratically and running other vehicles off the road.

At approximately 5:59pm police saw the vehicle travelling north through Blandford on the New England Highway, the police turned around and attempted to catch up to the vehicle.

Police activated all warning devices, just north of the intersection with Timor Road, however the vehicle increased speed to between 137 and 147 kilometres an hour in a 100 zone.

The vehicle crossed to the incorrect side of the road, directly into the path of three oncoming vehicles and police suspended their pursuit, due to the risk to other people on the road.

The vehicle continued to cross onto the wrong side of the road, overtook two vehicles travelling in the same direction and at least three oncoming vehicles had to take evasive action to avoid a collision.

Numerous police vehicles searched for the utility, which did not leave north of Murrurundi and they received a number of reports and complaints from members of the public, before locating the white utility parked in the competitor’s parking area of the Rosedale Complex, Little Street, Murrurundi at approximately 6:20pm. 

Ms McMulkin-Faithful found by police, sitting beside her vehicle with a number of the competitors of the King of the Ranges Stockman’s Challenge, who were unknown to her.

Police observed her registration plates had the mailbox type letters of “P” and “E” covering other letters and found an assortment of letter and number stickers inside her vehicle.

Ms McMulkin-Faithful was placed under arrest and initially denied being the driver of the vehicle.

Police were able to positively identify her as the driver and when asked why had crossed onto the wrong side of the road she said, “I crossed to the wrong side of the road to make him stop chasing me.” 

Police report Ms McMulkin-Faithful continually asked them to, “just arrest me and take me to gaol, at least I’ll be safe there.”

She was observed to have difficulty balancing whie standing still, fidgeted, was scratching her arms, her conversation was erratic, she had difficulty focusing on the police officer who was speaking to her and refused a breath test.

Police found a bag of goods they suspected stolen in her vehicle, some of which had the price tags and a security tag on them.

She was taken to the Scott Memorial Hospital in Scone for a blood and urine sample, before going to the Muswellbrook police station where she refused to answer any questions from police.

Petrol Pattern

Among the 29 charges there were three for failing to pay for petrol at Tomingley on February 22, Wyalong on February 23 and Dubbo on February 26 and other charges for driving without a licence, driving an unregistered vehicle and driving an uninsured vehicle. 

Ms McMulkin-Faithful was remanded in custody and the matter was adjourned until April 20.