Car thieves jailed after motorway police chase ends outside The Hawthorns
Three thieves who took a car before leading police on a chase from Walsall to West Bromwich have been jailed.
The keys to the Ford Focus were stolen during a break-in at a house in Greenwood Grove, Stafford, by an unknown burglar.
But police were able to arrest three suspects after boxing in the stolen vehicle, Stafford Crown Court heard.
The driver of the car was Sean Thomas and his passengers were Neon Stewart and Ashley Campbell. In the boot of the £6,000 Focus was some property stolen in the burglary, including a TV.
Stewart, aged 24, of Finchley Road, Kingstanding; Campbell, aged 25, of Washington Street, Birmingham; and Thomas, aged 24, of Newspring Street, Birmingham, were each jailed for 18 months.
They all denied charges of theft and aggravated vehicle taking but were convicted by a jury, who cleared them of burglary.
Thomas was also convicted of driving while disqualified and having no insurance and was banned for 18 months.
Judge Michael Chambers QC told them: "I am quite satisfied this was a planned expedition by each of you from Birmingham to Stafford – not to go to a party – but in order to steal a car, the keys to be taken during the burglary. The fourth man who drove you down there was responsible for the burglary.
"But you were clearly aware of the circumstances of the burglary and as close to it as anyone could be."
The jury heard that in the early hours of July 11, the Ford Focus was stolen from a driveway.
Police began pursuing it along the M6 southbound near Walsall and on to the M5, finally boxing it in on the A41 outside The Hawthorns.
Mr William Dudley, for Thomas, said: "My client is not routinely a thief."
