David James Fleay: Sentence for delusional police station rammer delayed over misdiagnosis concerns

A Geraldton magistrate has put off sentencing a man diagnosed with a delusional disorder who was high on meth when he ploughed his vehicle into the Geraldton police station while wearing a crash helmet due to concerns he has more underlying mental health conditions. David James Fleay, 42, appeared in Geraldton Magistrates Court on Wednesday where he was set to be sentenced for criminal damage and endangering the life, health or safety of a person. He pleaded guilty to the charges on February 22. But the sentencing was drawn out to two days after defence lawyer Albert Kunneke told the court Fleay was under the influence of methylamphetamine at the time of the incident. On Sunday, February 4, about 4.30am, Fleay drove a Holden Astra on Marine Terrace before turning into the Geraldton police station carpark and accelerating heavily, crashing into bollards at the front of the building. CCTV vision captured Fleay leaving the car wearing a crash helmet. He put himself in a fighting stance as officers ran out of the building to arrest him. Mr Kunneke told the court Fleay reportedly suffered from a delusional disorder and was generally able to control his emotions, but at the time he was acting out of frustration at WA Police. Although he was under the influence of methylamphetamine at the time, Mr Kunneke said Fleay had been sober in custody for 101 days and his thoughts remained the same. Despite his drug use, Mr Kunneke said Fleay’s mental disorder should be given significant attention. “(The act) was not sophisticated, it was rather to prove a point,” he told the court. But police prosecutor Sgt Paul White claimed Fleay’s actions were planned and he “prepared himself as he was wearing a helmet”. Magistrate Matthew Walton said he needed to balance the significance of the event with Fleay’s underlying mental health issues and his “wilful ingestion of methylamphetamine”. The next day, Mr Walton ordered a psychiatric report due to concerns of potential misdiagnoses and the possibility Fleay had other underlying mental health conditions. The matter was adjourned until Wednesday, July 10. Fleay was remanded in custody.