Hit-and-run killer jailed for ram raid

Colin Meek who was locked up in 2002 for causing the death by dangerous driving of Leonie Shaw in Bishop Auckland, County Durham targeted a shop in the early hours of May 18 last year.

Meek, along with another man Michael Collier, had taken part in the ram raid on the Woolworths store, in Barnard Castle, County Durham, in Collier's Madza 626 car.

Despite being banned for life Meek, the driver, sped away from the scene, pursued by police cars and a police helicopter at speeds reaching up to 100mph in 30mph and 40mph zones.

Meek, 38, and Collier, 26, both of no fixed address, were caught by police and admitted a burglary charge.

Meek faced related charges of dangerous driving and driving while disqualified, which he had denied, but which he was found guilty of following a trial by jury.

Ian West, for Collier, who like Meek was on prison licence at the time of the offence in Barnard Castle, said he had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

He said at the time of the offence both men were effectively living in the car which was used to smash through the doors of the Woolworths store.

Meek's solicitor Adrian Dent said: "He is not seeking to blame anybody else for the offence.

"The motive was to get money to buy heroin and also on his part to get enough money to fund a bond to get fresh accommodation."

He said that although Meek had committed many violent offences, he had no record of dishonesty and the burglary was out of character for him.

He also argued that the dangerous driving aspect was a "completely different type of offence" to that committed when Leonie Shaw was killed in that it was the dangerous condition of the car and not the speed element that was the major factor.

Mr Dent described how the father of two had been reviled in his own community after causing the death of the girl and had effectively been exiled from his home.

He had lost contact with his family and having been released early from prison on licence, having served two years of a four year sentence, moved to a hostel in Gateshead, where he lived for five months.

There he was attempting to rehabilitate himself and had applied for a number of jobs unsuccessfully.

He said: "There was a general and desperate desire on his part to try and make a new start."

Mr Dent went on: "He knows he is going to prison and I would simply ask that the period in the round is as short as possible so he is not denied hope in the future."

The Recorder of Middlesbrough, Judge Peter Fox said both men had very bad criminal records.

He described the ram raid, which led to the theft of 2,000 worth of mobile phones, as "audacious".

The judge said: "It was planned and determined. Initially you tried to prize your way through the doors with a shovel.

"When that was unsuccessful you rammed your way through the doors with your car."

Judge Fox said that Meek then sped off with the police in hot pursuit, but not before the plates on the vehicle had been changed.

He said he was able to mitigate against the driving since it was late at night and there were no pedestrians endangered.

Both men received three years each for the burglary, with Meek receiving a year on top for the dangerous driving offence.

There was no separate penalty for driving while disqualified, although Meek was further disqualified for three years, a period the judge acknowledged was academic since he was already banned for life.

Meek and Collier had 334 and 364 days respectively left over from previous sentences having been let out early on licence.

But having taken into account the length of time both had spent on remand, that only equated to an extra 14 days for Meek and 130 for Collier.