Delivery Driver Clings On To Bonnet As Thief Steals His Van
17 August 2017, 13:05 | Updated: 22 August 2017, 09:53
Astonishing CCTV footage shows the moment a delivery driver clings on to the bonnet of his stolen van as it’s driven at high speeds in Staines.
The victim had been making a delivery to a local business when Tony Mark Coates, 34, was walking nearby and got into the vehicle.
When the delivery driver went to stop the thief, he ended up clinging to the bonnet as his van was driven off.
Security cameras captured the shocking incident, but the vehicle was being driven so fast, the footage had to be slowed down 10 times to show what was happening.
Coates continued to drive erratically, accelerating and swerving violently in an attempt to dislodge the victim.
Eventually he slowed down momentarily, allowing the delivery driver, who suffered substantial bruising, to jump clear.
The van was later located that day in Slough as it was fitted with on-board tracking equipment with Coates arrested a short distance away.
The 34-year-old pleaded guilty to aggravated taking of a vehicle, attempted grievous bodily harm, dangerous driving and driving whilst disqualified and with no insurance at Kingston Crown Court on 11th August.
He was sentenced to six years in prison and banned from driving for four years.
PC Sam Child from Surrey Police said: “This was a very dangerous incident where the victim could very easily have been far more seriously injured.
“Thankfully the victim escaped with extensive bruising, but it is not difficult to imagine what could have happened if he had fallen off in front of the van, or into the path of another vehicle.
“I hope the victim can take some comfort from the sentence Coates has been given.”
Watch the astonishing CCTV at the top of this page.
