VIDEO: Driver who led police on high-speed chase is jailed
A PLYMOUTH thief led police on a high-speed pursuit around the city before his stolen car was blocked in, a court heard.
Ricky Loram-Martin sped through residential areas at 70mph without lights, hurtled through road works within feet of workmen, ran red lights and drove the wrong way around North Cross roundabout.
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He then sped across the grass of another roundabout before being stopped by 'tactical contact' – described by police as "a controlled collision" with their BMW X5 four-wheel drive.
The car he was in suffered £5,000 damage in the incident on August 24.
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The 31-year-old, from Browning Road, Milehouse, pleaded guilty yesterday at Plymouth Crown Court to aggravated vehicle-taking, dangerous driving, theft from a motor vehicle and driving without a licence or insurance.
He also asked for six further offences to be taken into account, and admitted that the offences breached a conditional discharge imposed by city magistrates.
Crown Prosecution Service prosecutor David Gittins said the black Vauxhall Zafira was taken after its keys were stolen in a burglary on August 22.
Around 3am two days later, members of the public at Oreston phoned police to report two men with torches looking into cars.
The Zafira was spotted and followed at speeds of up to 70mph through the streets of Plymstock.
At Pomphlett Road, a police pursuit car was waiting, and videoed the chase that followed through Prince Rock, Greenbank, Mutley and Milehouse.
The Zafira raced along Laira Bridge Road, Gdynia Way, Tothill Road, Greenbank Road, Mutley Plain, Ermington Terrace, North Road East, North Cross roundabout, Saltash Road, Stuart Road and Milehouse Road.
At times the lights were switched off in a bid to give police the slip.
The Zafira was eventually stopped in Milehouse Road, a second man getting away and Loram-Martin refusing to name him.
NOTE: Police commentary begins at 0:08 seconds into video
In the car were a screwdriver, a torch, car stereos and sat-navs.
Loram-Martin told police he had found the vehicle in Beacon Park with the keys in it, and had driven around stealing items.
His barrister, Ali Rafati, said he had been crime-free for five years but reverted to his old ways after being laid off as a bricklayer due to the recession, leading to the break-up of his relationship.
Judge Francis Gilbert QC told Loram-Martin: "It's a miracle no-one was injured or killed."
He jailed him for 10 months, banned him for three years and ordered him to taken an extended driving test before getting his licence back.
Comments
by crazyjonhere
Tuesday, January 15 2013, 8:00PM
“Typical paper hype up the story The driver had no regard for the workmen working on the road. There was no men working because it was 3.40 in the morning get it right!”
by crazyjonhere
Tuesday, January 15 2013, 7:59PM
“Typical paper hype up the story The driver had no regard for the workmen working on the road. There was no men working because it was 3.40 in the morning get it right!”
by crazyjonhere
Tuesday, January 15 2013, 7:58PM
“Typical paper hype up the story The driver had no regard for the workmen working on the road. There was no men working because it was 3.40 in the morning get it right!”
by Dan_Plymouth
Saturday, November 05 2011, 3:54PM
“its interesting to see how all the roads link up the way they do from one side of the city to another. They drove past my house! i wish i could get from plymstock to mine in the time they did!!
But great driving by the police, im almost certain i would have lost them and i thought they did for a while, Well trained Police i salute you.”
by MPstink1
Saturday, November 05 2011, 2:35PM
“31 years old Loram-Martin and still the complete idiot rubbish....has been for years.
His grubby little mate is also proven scum.”
by sadperson
Saturday, November 05 2011, 1:46PM
“He then sped across the grass of another roundabout before being stopped by 'tactical contact' – described by police as "a controlled collision" with their BMW X5 four-wheel drive.
I suppose this is the new PC way of saying that they rammed him off the road. Yeah! Thought so!”
by josdave
Saturday, November 05 2011, 1:36PM
“It's not so much the theft that bothers me as the fact that he is a real threat to public safety behind the wheel of a car. I would ban him for life. A large number of people in Plymouth do not know how close they were to a life threatening situation. The only reason he didn't kill anyone is pure luck as he is a menace.”
by timplymouth
Saturday, November 05 2011, 12:01PM
“10 months for stealing a car, damaging it, stealing car stereos, endangering the lives of countless people and he gets 10 months.
A couple of pre-arrange no balls gets you 2years+ and harms no-one except a few dodgey bookies on the other side of the planet.”
by DevonMal
Saturday, November 05 2011, 10:53AM
“This brainless idiot has always been a pain in the neck. He should have been shot years ago...”
by colinplymouth
Saturday, November 05 2011, 10:50AM
“mornao the car in the picture is the stolen car”