Dumper thief jailed after 37-mile chase
A man who was chased by police for 37 miles after stealing a dumper truck has been jailed for 14 months...
Nicholas Churchill, 40, damaged three police patrol vehicles as he was pursued by a helicopter and six police cars across Norfolk and Suffolk.
Churchill managed to cause £26,000 worth of damage during the chase after "the red mist descended". The court heard that he had grown angry when he complained to his employers that his cab was too hot but was told to "get on with his job" – the prosecutors argued that Churchill had been taking amphetamines.
The 30-tonne Volvo dumper truck was used to ram into police cars with one officer saying that he was "petrified" and thought he was going to die. Judge Anthony Bates reprimanded Churchill during sentencing by telling him that "it was a shocking piece of sustained dangerous driving."
Churchill has admitted to aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving and driving while unfit through drugs.
Click above to see the video footage of the chase! (Courtesy of The Yorkshire Evening Post).