Thief imprisoned after dangerous caravan chase

A serial thief took police on a dangerous motorway chase after stealing a caravan from the drive of a home in Bessacarr.

Andrew Paul Vance, 22, had attached the caravan to a four-wheel drive vehicle when he was spotted by police careering along the M18 in Doncaster at high speed.

After refusing to pull over to the hard shoulder, Mr Vance - who had only been out of prison for three days - found himself with one police car following him and one alongside attempting to block him.

He proceeded to slam on the brakes, forcing the car behind into an emergency stop, before a police officer on foot tried to detain him and narrowly avoided being run over as he sped away again.

The pursuit continued as Mr Vance left the motorway at junction four and drove the caravan across two ploughed fields before unsuccessfully attempting to unhitch it, the judge at Doncaster Crown Court heard.

Vance then drove across a ditch before abandoning the caravan in a wood, where he was subsequently detained.

On arrival at the police station, he admitted 227 other theft offences committed over the previous year, totalling £110,000 worth of property.

Sentencing Mr Vance to three years in prison, judge Patrick Robertshaw said he hoped the serial offender would "go straight having wiped the slate clean with your monumental frankness".

Such incidents of caravan theft serve to underline the importance of having a comprehensive caravan insurance policy, even if the vehicle is left on a drive.

21/07/2008 11:47:24