Canberra man who leapt into Lake Burley Griffin after high-speed chase denied bail

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Canberra, AU - A 39-year-old man, who allegedly led police on a high-speed chase through Canberra in April, has been refused bail to attend drug rehabilitation.

John Warren Westaway jumped into Lake Burley Griffin at the end of the chase in an attempt to flee police.

A man who jumped into Lake Burley Griffin in a bid to escape police after an alleged drug-fuelled high-speed chase through Canberra has been refused bail.

John Warren Westaway, 39, is facing a raft of charges including 17 driving charges related to the incident, which occurred in April, as well as other charges from an alleged burglary in 2019.

On Thursday, the ACT Magistrates Court viewed police vision of the incident when Mr Westaway, who had allegedly taken ice, led police in Queanbeyan on a chase across the border through morning peak-hour traffic.

Inside the ACT, up to ten police cars became involved in the incident.

Mr Westaway was eventually captured after he tried to escape into the lake and has been in jail since.

Calls for drug rehabilitation rejected

Mr Westaway's lawyer Ben Barrack told the court his client had been taking drugs while in jail but urged he has been given a chance, on bail, to attend drug rehabilitation.

"There is only one way to break the pattern, and that's with rehabilitation," Mr Barrack said.

He described the program as quasi-custodial.

But Special Magistrate Lucinda Wilson told the court "It's not quasi ... he can walk out".

"It is astounding to the court no-one was hurt," Special Magistrate Lucinda Wilson said.

"There were protracted periods where he was driving on the wrong side of the road."

Special Magistrate Wilson also noted how Mr Westaway was alleged to have driven on the bike path, endangering cyclists and pedestrians.

She said given his history of offending, the court was almost assured he would reoffend if released.

'No basis on which I would grant bail': Magistrate

Special Magistrate Wilson said Mr Westaway was not eligible for rehabilitation because he had continued to use drugs while in jail.

She said even if he went to a rehabilitation program, he could leave, and he would be a danger to the community.

"There is no basis on which I would grant bail," Special Magistrate Wilson said.

"He is far too great a risk to the community."

Mr Westaway will return to court later in the year.