West Winch car thief 'drove at police'
A CAR thief deliberately drove at a police car which was pursuing him down a dead-end track, a court heard.
Stuart Ashby (29), had accelerated towards the car and jumped out just before the collision.
Ashby, of 22 Orford Place, West Winch, admitted stealing a car, driving while disqualified and resisting an officer when he appeared before Lynn Magistrates on Monday. He narrowly escaped an immediate prison sentence and instead received a 16-week prison sentence suspended for two years.
Rob Warner, prosecuting, said Ashby had taken a Ford Sierra parked in the town's Valingers Road on January 10, leaving a mother and three children stranded following their Tae Kwon Do lesson.
Later that evening, Ashby was spotted by police driving the stolen car along the B149, near the junction with Walton Highway. He turned into Salters Road and despite the police car's flashing lights, he failed to pull over.
Mr Warner said Ashby drove down a dead-end farm track, turned at the end and accelerated towards the police car, jumping out before it collided.
Ashby was chased on foot and "struggled in a violent" manner before police arrested him, Mr Warner added.
He was sentenced to four months suspended for stealing the car, four months suspended for driving while disqualified, to be served concurrently, and two weeks for resisting an officer, also to be served concurrently.
Ashby was banned from driving for a year and his licence was endorsed for driving without insurance. He was also ordered to pay the car owner 250 compensation.
Defending, Mr George Sorrell said he could not offer much mitigation but Ashby was "truly sorry" for what he had done. He said Ashby had a genuine desire to find a job and there were children involved.
Magistrate Mrs Ros Wreford told Ashby to find work and stop "sponging off his family," adding: "You are being given one last chance. We thought very seriously about sending you down straight away."
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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