Margaret River schools were placed on lockdown on Friday afternoon after a man allegedly stole a vehicle and drove erratically through the streets of Margaret River.
Christopher Andrew Sykes, 31 of Augusta escaped police custody in the South West town on the morning of Friday February 24.
It is alleged Sykes then drove through a number of Margaret River streets and conducted burn outs in carparks around the townsite.
The man’s driving was so concerning that Margaret River Senior High School locked down their students and notified parents by text message at 2.45pm.
“As notified by the local police, the school is now in lockdown due to an erratic driver, in a stolen vehicle which has the potential to affect the safety of our students leaving school grounds,” the text message read.
“Students will remain on the school campus until advised by the police that it is safe to leave. School buses will not be affected; school buses will wait for all students to be released."
After the driver was apprehended, parents were informed and students were released from school.
"As notified by the local police, the school is now in lockdown due to an erratic driver, in a stolen vehicle which has the potential to affect the safety of our students leaving school grounds. Students will remain on the school campus until advised by the police that it is safe to leave. School buses will not be affected; school buses will wait for all students to be released."
- Margaret River Senior High School
The incident ended on Carters Road just outside Margaret River townsite, when the man allegedly tried to get in to other people’s cars and asked them for a lift.
Sykes appeared in Bunbury Magistrates Court on Monday charged with a breach of a violence restraining order, failing to comply with a direction to stop, escaping from lawful custody, reckless driving, stealing a motor vehicle and two charges of no authority to drive.
Sykes will re-appear in court on April 5 following legal advice.
