Man who stole rapid response vehicle jailed

A drunk driver who drove up to 120 mph in a stolen East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) rapid response car has been jailed for nine months.

Daniel Glover, 28, was charged at Chelmsford Crown Court on Tuesday (January 24) after admitting aggravated vehicle taking and drink driving. He also pleaded guilty to driving without insurance and obstructing a police officer.

Glover, of Mile End in London, stole the trust's response car in Clacton to get home after a New Year's Eve party.

The court was told a police officer on patrol saw the Honda Accord vehicle pulling on to the A12 at Witham just after 1am on January 1. The Essex Police helicopter was scrambled and a police chase followed in which Glover drove at speeds of up to 120mph and consistently over 100mph with the vehicle's blue lights flashing, the court heard. The car was stopped after police used a stinger to puncture its tyres.

Passing sentence, Judge Anthony Goldstaub said: "Mr. Glover stole the vehicle on a night of the year when the need for it to preserve life and help the ill and injured was at its greatest."

In a statement read to the court, duty operations manager Steven Keating, who attended the hearing on behalf of the trust, said the theft came at the same time as a fatal incident in Clacton. While paramedics attended that incident in good time, it meant a less well-equipped vehicle had to be sent to other emergencies.

Trevor Redburn, Assistant General Manager for North East Essex said: "Fortunately nobody was injured while Mr. Glover was driving the stolen car. Mr. Glover has caused a great deal of stress both to the paramedic whose car he stole, but also to the trust managers who had to be stood down to deal with this incident on what was the busiest and most difficult night of the year. "

Glover was also banned from driving for 18 months.