The man accused of driving the car that sparked last night's dramatic police chase through Sydney’s inner west, has told the court he's innocent and was assaulted by officers.
Mustafa Dagdanasar faces four charges over last night’s chase from Redfern to Strathfield, but he claims he had nothing to do with the drama.
The 27-year-old told the court he had been minding his own business when he had been caught up in the pursuit and beaten up.
"I was walking along Parramatta Road when all this happened," he told the court.
"I've got nothing to do with this.
"They went pretty hard on me."
"I asked what are you doing this for but they kept kicking me and punching me, kicking me and punching me.
"They hurt me as much as they could."
Dagdanasar and two other men were arrested after the pursuit which ended at Strathfield.
The accused, who wasn’t represented at court, applied for bail, but the magistrate, Caroline Barkell, refused on the grounds of his criminal record – he was also on parole at the time.
He will reappears at Burwood Local Court on Thursday.
NSW Police made 460 arrests and pressed 600 charges over the three-day Operation Avert, which ran from Saturday until Monday.
Those arrested included a man charged for aggravated sexual assault on a 13-year-old girl.
Another man, wanted for intimidating and assaulting police, was allegedly found in possession of explosives.
Police Minister David Campbell praised police efforts.
"Hundreds of serious criminals are now off the streets as a result of this fine police work and officers should be proud of their efforts," he said.
The police spokesman for Operation Avert, Assistant Commissioner Frank Mennilli, said it had been a "meticulously planned and targeted team effort by all local area commands across the state".
Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said targeting repeat offenders substantially impacted on crime.
"I said when I took over this role as the commissioner that I was going to go after those people that have been out there and thought that they had got away with it," he told Macquarie Radio.
"Those people who are repeat offenders are the ones that continue to go out and commit crimes."
He said Operation Avert netted both those wanted on outstanding warrants, and those who had recently, or were in the process, of committing crimes.