A PLUCKY pensioner clung to the bonnet of his car when a thief tried to steal it, a court heard today.
William Morton had left the engine running when he popped into his local shop on Hastings Street, Hendon, Sunderland, on February 9.
The 77-year-old saw somebody behind the wheel as he came back out of the store and made a brave bid to stop the stranger getting away.
advertisement
Prosecutor Geoff Mason told Newcastle Crown Court: "Some might say courageously he ran to where his car was being taken and he jumped onto the bonnet of the car - plucky is the word."
Ian Irwin, 37, of Roker Avenue, Sunderand admitted he was the driver and pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle and driving whilst disqualified.
The court heard how Irwin reversed, applied the brakes and drove in a zig-zag fashion to try to get Mr Morton off the bonnet.
Mr Mason said: "It eventually reached the point where he collided with a parked vehicle and the impact of stopping the car caused Mr Morton to shoot off the car and onto the road."
Mr Morton suffered a sore shoulder and hip and was seen by paramedics at the scene but did not wish to go to hospital.
He told plice he depended on his car after recent surgery and found driving helped him to relax and get out of the house.
He told officers: "I am uspet, injured and distressed that this has happened to me."
Defence barrister Julian Smith said Irwin wished to apologise the owner of the vehicle, which he had taken on impulse.
Mr Smith said: "He had not gone out to commit an offence that morning"
Judge David Hodson jailed Irwin for 16 months.
The judge told him: "Happily he was not as badly injured as what might have, been but it must have been a terrifying experience for him."
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
Print
Email this
Comment
