Police-chase carjack thugs jailed

TWO thugs who led police on a high-speed chase through Oldham after a violent car-jacking, have been jailed.

The victim had been sitting in his car with the engine running in Pitt Street East, Oldham in February 2014 when he was confronted by one of the men, wearing a balaclava.

The door was wrenched open and the owner hit repeatedly. When he fled the attacker jumped behind the wheel.

Manchester Crown Court was told the Vauxhall Corsa, plus a stolen Vauxhall Insignia driven by the second man, travelled at excessive speed, sometimes on the wrong side of the road, before the Corsa crashed.

The court heard how 24-year-old Connor Whalen, the attacker of Elm Street, Failsworth, and 29-year old Colin Gibson of Church Lane, Manchester, had both been involved in the theft of cars and dealing in stolen number plates.

Elizabeth Evans, prosecuting, said neither had been insured to drive, among other motoring offences.

Gibson had also pleaded guilty to two counts of making off without payment having twice topped the Insignia up with fuel and driving away.

Whalen pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm in respect of an unrelated incident in January, last year, when he attacked his girlfriend.

The court was told that both men could have been sentenced a year ago, but Whalen had caused extensive delays by first accepting his guilt then denying it, and twice failing to turn up for legal hearings.

Sentencing them, Judge Maurice Greene said the robbery had been a serious one and there was no alternative to immediate custody. Whalen was sent down for five and a half years after pleading to robbery, conspiracy to steal, dangerous driving and two bail act offences. He was banned from driving for 45 months.

Gibson was given four years and four months after admitting robbery, conspiracy to steal, dangerous driving and two counts of making off without payment. He was also banned for 38 months.