A man from Durham has been jailed for four years for robbery, aggravated vehicle taking and assault of an emergency worker.
Gavin Aldworth, 38, of St Marks Court, Bishop Auckland, was sentenced at Preston Crown Court yesterday, June 29.
On Thursday April 6, Aldworth approached a man who was heading towards his parked car on Rawlinson Street, Barrow.
He asked the man for directions to an address and pointed to his phone. While the man was distracted, Aldworth hit his head and neck causing him to fall to the floor.
As the man fell, he dropped his car keys. Aldworth demanded that he give him his keys.
The man ran up Harrison Street where a witness called the police and Aldworth left in the car.
Shortly after, police received a report of a collision on the A590 near Greenodd. A passer-by reported seeing the driver running off in the direction of Kendal.
Officers attended the scene of the collision and found the car taken earlier that evening with significant damage. The driver’s airbag had been deployed and the keys were still in the ignition.
Officers found Aldworth a mile from the collision on the A590, were he resisted arrest, spat at officers, and bit an officer’s hand causing injury.
Officers arrested Aldworth and he was taken into police custody.
Detective Constable Matt McFall, officer in case, said: “The offender set upon a local man in order to steal his car keys on Rawlinson Street, Barrow in an attempt to get back to the North East by taking the victim’s vehicle.
“Aldworth then drove the stolen car to a petrol station to fill up with fuel. He later crashed and decamped the vehicle. He was stopped around a mile away where he assaulted a police officer.
“His behaviour has landed him with a well-deserved period in jail.”
