Escaping car thief rammed stolen caravan into police patrol car
A STOLEN caravan was rammed into a police car during a chase through Derby.
The two officers inside the patrol car were left shocked and dazed after a thief reversed the caravan into the front of their vehicle.
It left the police car disabled, with steam rising from under its bonnet. Damage was put at more than £3,000.
Terence Hall, 22, who was behind the wheel of the stolen four-wheel-drive vehicle towing the caravan, drove off but was arrested later that day.
He had been pursued through the streets of Alvaston at speeds of up to 40mph, swerving across the road and at one stage driving the wrong way on a roundabout.
Camera footage from inside the patrol car showed the moment the stolen vehicle stopped, before reversing at speed and ramming the caravan into the police.
Jailing Hall for 30 months, Recorder David Farrell QC said: "If someone else was driving along that road in a proper manner and you were driving the way you were, you could have killed them or seriously injured them.
"That's not all – you stopped your vehicle and deliberately reversed at speed into the police officers."
Jonathan Dee, prosecuting, said the Daihatsu four-wheel-drive vehicle had gone missing from a home in Mackworth on August 5 last year. Later that night, a Mickleover resident called police after he saw the vehicle being attached to his neighbour's caravan and then being driven off.
Mr Dee said police caught up with Hall on the A50. He was still towing the caravan. They pursued him along Shardlow Road and Bembridge Drive where they were rammed.
Hall, of Moss Street, Derby, admitted dangerous driving, theft of a vehicle and driving while disqualified.
In March last year, he was given a three-year community order for theft of a vehicle, the court heard. On that occasion he had asked the sentencing judge to take into consideration 109 other offences – of which 45 were thefts of vehicles.
Catherine McKeever, in mitigation, said Hall had been in and out of custody since he was 17 but since August had not committed any offences and had got himself a job.
Hall's brother, Kevin, was also sentenced. He was locked up for 20 months. The court heard that the 20-year-old had followed the chase in his van, before stopping behind the police car. He was arrested for being involved in the theft of the caravan.
Kevin Hall, of Lynton Street, Derby, was released on bail but was re-arrested on February 1 after a stolen tractor and trailer worth £4,000 were found at a garage, in Jackson Street, Derby, which he was renting.
The court heard that Kevin Hall had received £80 for storing the vehicles. Tools from another stolen vehicle were also found at the garage.
He pleaded guilty to theft of the caravan and three counts of handling stolen goods and was sentenced to 20 months in a young offenders' institution.
Laura Pitman, in mitigation, said Kevin Hall had stopped behind police of his own accord in the chase of his brother.
19 Comments
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by Rams Fan, Oakwood
Monday, September 06 2010, 1:22PM
“I think the 'irony' bit referred to your own awful punctuation and grammar, Gary.
"To Clair of Derby:
why do you write like that; have you no knowledge of grammar or spelling? It does not impress you know! Write as you have been or are being taught at school and you may be taken more seriously."”
by Gary, Long Eaton
Monday, September 06 2010, 9:23AM
“is nt surprise because there mother let them do wot they want when they was younger and she use to tell them to go out and steal thing i know the halls four a while now an she still does it now most proberley even thow she been done her self four simaler things and been on crime watch four fraud
"To Clair of Derby - why do you write like that, have you no knowledge of grammar or spelling, it does not impress you know, write as you have been/are being taught at school and you may be taken more seriously."
Ah, the irony.”
by Gary, Long Eaton
Monday, September 06 2010, 9:22AM
“"To Clair of Derby - why do you write like that, have you no knowledge of grammar or spelling, it does not impress you know, write as you have been/are being taught at school and you may be taken more seriously."
Ah, the irony
Roy, Derby
Please explain.”
by Roy, Derby
Monday, September 06 2010, 6:21AM
“Same thing happen over here in Wiltshire micky ;)”
by micky, alicantel
Sunday, September 05 2010, 10:31PM
“well for a start, i think clair needs to improve on her,words and spelling etc, although im not perfect,as for the joy riders, i think you need our gaurdia civil guys over there, they would have shot the tyres out, and the joyriders would get a good hammering before getting to the gaurdia barracks, then thrown in a cell for 3 or 4 days before a solicitor gets to see him, or he might have spent a week or two in hospital recovering ,from his fall, and then straight to prison. until his trial starts, by which time he would have endered a few beatings from the arab an morrocan innmates, unless he is off wealth,so he can pay maffiosa protection,”
by Roy, Derby
Sunday, September 05 2010, 7:47PM
“"To Clair of Derby - why do you write like that, have you no knowledge of grammar or spelling, it does not impress you know, write as you have been/are being taught at school and you may be taken more seriously."
Ah, the irony :)”
by barry, derby
Sunday, September 05 2010, 5:44PM
“i say fair play lads about time the police did something for a living instead of sitting around doing nothing.one less police car less fines for innocent motorist that the police pick on.something entertaining to watch on tv for a change.well done lads keep up the good work about time derby was put on the map”
by Gary, Long Eaton
Sunday, September 05 2010, 5:27PM
“To Clair of Derby - why do you write like that, have you no knowledge of grammar or spelling, it does not impress you know, write as you have been/are being taught at school and you may be taken more seriously.”
by Derby52, Derby
Sunday, September 05 2010, 12:00PM
“Just a thought ...."who pays for the damage to the police car ?" and will my insurance premiums reflect the cost of claiming for the caravan ?. SO,,,, does this mean I and all other law abiding citizens will have to foot the bill and if so can I claim from these low life`s MMmmm!”
by New Dragon, Derby
Saturday, September 04 2010, 11:09PM
“"but since August had not committed any offences and had got himself a job."
.
TRANSLATION - Since August he hasnt been caught, and, he could con the court into not jailing him.”