Skip to main content

Grave crime

A British man was sent to prison for four years after being stopped by police while he was in the process of stealing a JCB telehandler. In his attempts to elude following police, the man veered wildly along narrow roads with no thought for other road users. He then drove the telehandler through a graveyard, smashing headstones and damaging graves in his escape bid. This proved fruitless however as a police helicopter had joined the pursuit and was able to direct police cars towards the speeding JCB. The ma
February 28, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
A British man was sent to prison for four years after being stopped by police while he was in the process of stealing a 255 JCB telehandler. In his attempts to elude following police, the man veered wildly along narrow roads with no thought for other road users. He then drove the telehandler through a graveyard, smashing headstones and damaging graves in his escape bid. This proved fruitless however as a police helicopter had joined the pursuit and was able to direct police cars towards the speeding JCB. The man was forced to stop by a flat tyre, which was caused by damage accrued during his destructive rampage through the graveyard. He had attempted to steal the telehandler to order for criminals. In court this, and a series of 16 other vehicle theft offences, were taken into account in his sentencing.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Hannibal complex?
    December 2, 2013
    A wildlife photographer taking footage in South Africa’s Kruger National Park has had to have his car repaired following a somewhat unusual impact. The man was filming a herd of elephants, who were perhaps camera shy as they took exception to his presence. After several members of the herd moved towards the vehicle it was attacked by a large elephant, which rushed up to the car and rammed into it. Just what the insurance company will make of his claim for damages to the vehicle remains to be seen.
  • Saving weight?
    February 23, 2012
    A cyclist in New Zealand appealed against a fine he was given for offensive behaviour when caught cycling in the nude. The man claimed that the country is becoming more tolerant towards nudity and that his ride along a quiet rural road 32km to the north of the city of Wellington was not offensive. Police acted when a passing motorist objected. The offence was committee on World Nude Bike Day. The man explained that he is uncomfortable wearing clothes and regularly walks around his house and carries out hous
  • Jumbo problems
    May 16, 2014
    In the US three elephants caused confusion after they escaped from handlers at a circus and the animals damaged a number of vehicles before they could be recaptured. According to bystanders, the elephants rampaged past several vehicles in a parking lot, tearing off mirrors, damaging bodypanels and breaking windows.
  • Back wheel only
    September 24, 2013
    A motorcyclist in the US made a rather foolish error when showing off his wheelie skills. The car in front stopped and as the rider had being paying insufficient attention to the road ahead he rammed straight into the rear of the vehicle. Worse still, the car was a police vehicle and its occupants were none too impressed with the rider’s behaviour, booking him immediately for the offence even as he lay sprawled on the ground recovering from the impact.