A MOTORCYCLE rider who allegedly failed to stop after a crash with a car at Cessnock on Tuesday and instead, badly injured with a wound to his head, repeatedly fled from police was on Wednesday unconscious, under police guard and undergoing surgery in John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle Local Court has heard.
Josh Gillies, 26, of Abermain, who has never held a motorcycle licence and was wanted on three outstanding arrest warrants at the time of the crash, was unable to provide instructions to a lawyer to either enter pleas or make a bail application on Wednesday and the matter was adjourned overnight for what is expected to be a bedside bail hearing.
Police say emergency services were called to the intersection of Cooper Street and King Street at Cessnock about 3pm on Tuesday after witnesses reported a crash between a Holden Rodeo and a motorcycle.
But when officers from the Hunter Valley Police District arrived, the rider had fled.
The driver of the Holden, a 43-year-old woman, was not injured in the crash, police said.
Soon after, police were called after reports an injured man had arrived at a business in nearby Vincent Street and was seeking medical assistance for serious head injuries.
But again when police arrived the man had left.
Following inquiries, police located and arrested Mr Gillies a block or so away at a house in Cumberland Street.
He was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to John Hunter Hospital under police guard with head and leg injuries and abrasions.
Mr Gillies was later charged with nine offences, including two counts of resisting arrest, not stopping a vehicle when directed to do so, reckless driving, not giving particulars to another driver, never licensed person drive vehicle on road, driving unregistered vehicle, driving an uninsured vehicle and possession of a prohibited weapon.
Police also executed the three outstanding arrest warrants.
Mr Gillies's matter was mentioned briefly in Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday when Magistrate Janine Lacy was told the 26-year-old was "unconscious" in John Hunter Hospital.
"He is getting prepped for surgery," solicitor Christopher Thompson said.
"Hospital staff couldn't give an indication if, after the surgery, he would be capable of giving instructions and the surgery is expected to last about an hour. "So the matter should go over until tomorrow."
Magistrate Lacy adjourned Mr Gillies's matter until Thursday when, if conscious and able to provide instructions, he is expected to apply for bail.
