By Lisa O’Brien
The tourist, who had driven to Devon from London in a car stolen by a thief and then dumped it in front of a yachtclub after escaping the police with his stolen vehicle.
Peter O’Neil and his passenger, both from Willenhall in Devon, tried to escape the vehicle with stolen items from a van belonging to a Paignton gardener earlier that day, but they were stopped by police.
The man was caught with a device for picking locks made from twisted wires. He refused to provide a sample of blood that could have revealed whether or not he had drugs in his body.
O’Neil, his partner and two of their friends were driven from the Midlands to Devon in a stolen car. Dashcam footage showed a man stealing an electric hedge trimmer, a leafblower and then driving off with O’Neil in the passenger seat.
The driver took the wheel just before the police in South Devon spotted it and drove dangerously for a brief chase. Officers were forced to release him.
The man left his car in front of the Paignton Sailing Club on South Quay. His CCTV showed him getting out the driver’s side and removing the tools stolen from the boot, before trying to flee.
O’Neil (39), of Mill Street in Willenhall had previously admitted to dangerous driving, driving without insurance and while disqualified, refusing to give a blood test, stealing goods, and having robbery equipment.
After his release, he was sentenced to a year in prison and prohibited from driving for the next two years. David Evans, Judge at Exeter Crown Court.
The officer told him, “You probably evaded the police because you had stolen goods on your vehicle and knew that you were disqualified. You also had no insurance. You may have been evading the police because you refused to provide a blood sample.
The risk was high, even though there were no injuries. “Their overconfidence is no guarantee the risk will not occur.”
The prosecutor, Miss Beth Rickerby said that police tried to stop O’Neil’s car because the vehicle had been stolen tools from a van belonging to a gardener. It was seen at Torbay, UK, on 30 September, 9.50pm.
She stated: “The car failed to stop. It exceeded the speed limits, it ran through red lights, and caused oncoming traffic take evasive actions to avoid collisions. The air was moist and there was only streetlight light.
The policeman stopped the pursuit for the safety of the public. Shortly after, the car was found in front of the Yacht Club. The chase was on for two males who fled the scene.
Neil, who was found to have two cables twisted in his possession by the police officer next to the vehicle. Security cameras revealed that he was no longer in the driver’s chair.
His previous convictions include 67 offenses, such as dangerous driving or driving with a disqualification.
The defense attorney, Mr. Paul Dentith said that he had accepted a lift from a buddy because he wanted to go on a holiday with his partner in Devon, but he did not know the vehicle was stolen. He did not steal the tools, and started driving before the police found the vehicle.
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