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Video shows joyrider police chase Video shows joyrider police chase
(10 minutes later)
Police have released video footage of a joyrider who led officers on a chase, the wrong way down a one-way system.Police have released video footage of a joyrider who led officers on a chase, the wrong way down a one-way system.
The film shows the stolen pick-up truck speeding through Cheltenham, forcing other vehicles to take evasive action.The film shows the stolen pick-up truck speeding through Cheltenham, forcing other vehicles to take evasive action.
Stephen Sharpe, 21, was eventually stopped by a stinger device following the 16-minute six-mile pursuit.Stephen Sharpe, 21, was eventually stopped by a stinger device following the 16-minute six-mile pursuit.
He was sentenced earlier this week to two years in jail after pleading guilty to aggravated vehicle taking and driving while disqualified.He was sentenced earlier this week to two years in jail after pleading guilty to aggravated vehicle taking and driving while disqualified.
Patrol car rammed
Sharpe took the Mitsubishi L200 pick-up owned by Linda Langrish from outside her home in Stanley Road on 27 March.Sharpe took the Mitsubishi L200 pick-up owned by Linda Langrish from outside her home in Stanley Road on 27 March.
Anybody watching this video would say that the courts should have greater powers than that for dealing with offenders as persistent as you Recorder David Lane QC
At about 2200 BST, officers in a patrol car spotted it turning from London Road, the wrong way down a one-way street.At about 2200 BST, officers in a patrol car spotted it turning from London Road, the wrong way down a one-way street.
They began filming with their on-board camera as they went after it.They began filming with their on-board camera as they went after it.
The police video, which was played in court, shows the truck at one point being reversed and rammed into the patrol car.The police video, which was played in court, shows the truck at one point being reversed and rammed into the patrol car.
The court heard the serial joyrider, whose past convictions included eight offences of taking vehicles without consent, had only been out of prison for two months, on licence from a previous dangerous driving sentence.The court heard the serial joyrider, whose past convictions included eight offences of taking vehicles without consent, had only been out of prison for two months, on licence from a previous dangerous driving sentence.
Defending him, David Martin conceded it was difficult to find much to say on Sharpe's behalf, given his bad driving record and the fact he had failed to stop during the chase.Defending him, David Martin conceded it was difficult to find much to say on Sharpe's behalf, given his bad driving record and the fact he had failed to stop during the chase.
Anybody watching this video would say that the courts should have greater powers than that for dealing with offenders as persistent as you Recorder David Lane QC Sharpe was jailed for two years
"Quite plainly he knows how to handle a motor vehicle and he handles it in a way that makes anybody cringe as to what might be around the next corner," he said."Quite plainly he knows how to handle a motor vehicle and he handles it in a way that makes anybody cringe as to what might be around the next corner," he said.
Sentencing Sharpe, Recorder David Lane QC said: "I am very disappointed that Parliament has decided even in 2007 that there should be a maximum of only two years imprisonment for this offence.Sentencing Sharpe, Recorder David Lane QC said: "I am very disappointed that Parliament has decided even in 2007 that there should be a maximum of only two years imprisonment for this offence.
"Anybody watching this video would say that the courts should have greater powers than that for dealing with offenders as persistent as you.""Anybody watching this video would say that the courts should have greater powers than that for dealing with offenders as persistent as you."