Police arrest would-be thieves in Southall

Two men who crashed their car into a bus while trying to escape police in Southall have been jailed.

Officers were on patrol on October 28, 2014, when a black Ford Focus with two men drove past them in The Green, Southall. Checks were conducted and it came back to be a black Ford Fiesta, not a Focus.

The car was pulled over in Park Avenue but the driver reversed and drove off down Avenue Road.

The car was abandoned in Boyd Avenue and police gave chase and detained the two men in Park View Road.

The car was searched and a pair of scissors, screwdrivers, a set of 'Allen keys', two rolls of double-sided tape, two woollen hats, two sets of gloves and two hi-vis jackets were found inside.

The men were arrested on suspicion of going equipped for theft.

Officers were then notified that the car had collided with a bus in Park Avenue while trying to evade police.

Checks on the driver showed he was disqualified from driving for an offence in 2013 and he was also arrested for dangerous driving and driving while disqualified.

Both men were charged on October 29, 2014.

Adrian Goldsmith, 49, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to 21 months' imprisonment for going equipped for theft.

Stephen Cartwright, 54, of Station Road, Birmingham, had previously pleaded guilty at Isleworth Crown Court on January 26 to going equipped for theft, dangerous driving and driving while disqualified. He was sentenced to a total of 28 months' imprisonment on January 26. He has also been disqualified from driving for three years and had his licence endorsed.

DC Jaspal Bains from Ealing CID said: "This sentence demonstrates our commitment to ensuring those who engage in criminal activity are taken off our streets."

19th May 2015