Wanted duo apprehended in dramatic arrest on Albany’s York Street after alleged attempted child stealing

A pregnant woman and a man on the run from police were nabbed in a dramatic arrest in Albany’s main street on Thursday afternoon after their alleged plans to steal a child were thwarted. Robert Wayne Ninyette, 33, and Shannon Pauline Old, 32, were arrested on conspiracy to steal a child. Police claim the pair were planning to collect the child without the permission of the legal guardian. The duo appeared in custody in Albany Magistrates Court on Friday on a string of charges, which included drug possession, breach of bail, assault, and stealing. Police prosecutor Sgt Warrick Walker told the court how police swooped on the pregnant woman and her male associate as they tried to enter a blue BMW sedan on Albany’s busy high street at 5.36pm on Thursday. The police tracked the fugitives to York Street after receiving intelligence that the couple — with six outstanding arrest warrants between them — had arrived from interstate and would be travelling to the Albany region. The pair allegedly tried to flee when they saw police, with Mr Ninyette accused of assaulting an officer as he was taken into custody. A search of the vehicle found $1000 in cash and 19g of methamphetamine. Sgt Walker said the pair had a return flight booked to Queensland for December 3. The duo were unrepresented in their court appearance, where Mr Ninyette appeared on 19 charges dating from July 2019 to November 30 this year. Ms Old faced six charges dating back to March 2022 in Forrestdale and Armadale. Mr Ninyette has an outstanding arrest warrant for 11 offences in 2019, including having ready access to weapons and drugs and endangering the life, health or safety of a person in Beckenham, Bassendean, Dianella, and Mirrabooka. Mr Ninyette is facing a host of fresh charges after his latest arrest, including possession of methylamphetamine with intent to sell or supply, failure to comply with the requirements of a police officer, possession of stolen or unlawfully obtained property, and assault with intent to prevent the arrest of a person. In his bail application, which was vehemently opposed by Sgt Walker, who cited the flight to Queensland, Mr Ninyette denied that he would be a bail breach and that he was in WA after spending seven months on bail for fraud charges in Melbourne. “I’m here back in WA. I’m trying to turn my life around,” he said. “I’ve sorted my s... out in Melbourne.” He said he was in Albany to visit his dying father, who resides in an aged care home. Ms Old’s charges included endangering the life, health or safety of a person, for which she had an outstanding arrest warrant. The 32-year-old was also hit with fresh charges for offences in Albany, including possession of methylamphetamine with intent to sell or supply, failure to comply with the requirements of a police officer, and possession of stolen or unlawfully obtained property. Ms Old also made a bail application, which was vehemently opposed by police prosecution. Sgt Walker told the court how police found three fake Victorian licences bearing Ms Old’s likeness with false names during the search of the vehicle, which had been hired under an alias used by Ms Old. Ms Old denied having a flight booked to Queensland on December 3, saying it was “made up”. Sgt Walker stated she posed a significant risk to the child, while Ms Old denied she was trying to steal the child. When asked by Magistrate Robert Young why she skipped court in June 2022, Ms Old said she had been scared. “I was very scared, very scared,” she said. “I didn’t have any support, and it was a silly move.” Ms Old said she’s six months pregnant with a high-risk pregnancy. Mr Young refused Ms Old’s bail application, saying he is always reluctant to remand pregnant people but that the risk of bail breach was too high and that if he were considering bail, he would only accept a “cash bond of a quarter of a million dollars”. The duo had their bail applications denied, and charges adjourned until December 14 to seek legal advice.