Woman pleads guilty to police-chase charges

A woman who led police on a chase through Rockingham that only ended when stingers were deployed has pleaded guilty to a string of charges.

On the night of February 18, police noticed a stolen vehicle parked in front of a home in Rockingham, but when they parked behind the car, the driver, Roza Lee Louise Gjengsto, reversed the Toyota LandCruiser and rammed the police car before speeding off.

She then led police on a chase through several suburbs including Rockingham, Cooloongup, Waikiki, Warnbro and Calista.

Trying to stop the chase, police deployed a stinger, which deflated the front and back right tyres of the stolen car, but the chase continued, with Gjengsto then allegedly driving on the wrong side of Gilmore Avenue for more than a kilometre, going through red lights and reaching speeds of up to 100km/h.

The front right tyre shredded and she continued to travel on the rim.

The incident ended near the intersection of Ennis Avenue and Dixon Road when the stolen vehicle rammed two police vehicles and came to a stop.

Appearing in custody in Rockingham Magistrate’s Court last Friday, Gjengsto pleaded guilty to four counts of preventing arrest, reckless driving to escape pursuit by police, stealing a motor vehicle, stealing a motor vehicle and driving recklessly and failing to comply with a direction to stop.

She also pleaded guilty to two counts of driving on a suspended licence and to a stealing charge.

She will be sentenced next month.