Burglary gang jailed after 100mph police chase through Black Country
Four men who sped from police at 100mph and drove on the wrong side of a dual carriageway with goods they had stolen from a convenience store have been jailed for a combined eight years.
Morgan McTaggart, Callum Hopson, Ashley Greatrex and Jamie Hopson were involved in the police chase after breaking into Kings Newsagents in Willenhall, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.
They took hundreds of pounds worth of cigarettes, alcohol and cash and threw items out of the stolen Ford Fiesta at the police car as they were being chased across the Black Country.
Ms Wendy Miller, prosecuting, said: "A white Ford Fiesta was stolen from Murdoch Drive, Kingswinford, and by November 11 it had been fitted with false plates.
"At 4am on November 11 it pulled up outside Kings Newsagents in Willenhall. Jamie Hopson was driving and stayed as other defendants broke in.
"They used a crow bar, a member of the public appeared in a van and when it was noticed that the van had reversed back it was then chased off and the driver went away.
"At 4.15am police officers in a marked vehicle spotted the vehicle as it emerged in Sedgley. McTaggart was the driver and it sped away.
"The vehicle was driven dangerously at 100mph in Tipton Street where it is a 30mph speed limit.
"Items were thrown from the vehicle one of which was a long metal bar which was thrown in the direction of the police vehicle.
"It went through red lights as it continued in the direction of Wolverhampton. As they arrived to Shaw Road they were travelling down the wrong side of a dual carriageway and drove onto a pavement after entering Anchor Lane.
"The police car eventually turned down Anchor Lane but all parties had abandoned the Ford Fiesta.
"McTaggart threw something at an officer, a decision was made to Taser him.
"Callum Hopson insisted he was a kid and 13 years old.
"Jamie Hopson spat on the floor in the direction of an officer."
McTaggart, Greatrex and both Hopsons had pleaded guilty to burglary at previous hearings.
Jamie Hopson also admitted taking the Ford Fiesta without consent and driving while disqualified. And McTaggart admitted aggravated vehicle taking and driving while disqualified.
Mr Anthony Bell, on behalf of McTaggart, 21, said: "He makes no excuses for his behaviour, he realises what he has done was wrong and is ready to take his punishment."
Mr Myrie Curtis, defending Callum Hopson, 21, said: "He accepts full responsibility for what he has done."
Mr Justin Jarmola, defending Greatrex, 18, said: "He is 18 years old, the youngest of the defendants, he is impressionable."
Mr Andrew Tucker, defending Jamie Hopson, 27, said he had kept out of offending for 18 months and had a labouring job.
"Unfortunately that job was lost to him and he had very little in the way of financial support and gave way to the temptation of crime," he added.
Judge Barry Berlin sentenced the four men at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Monday.
McTaggart, of Stow Heath Lane, Wolverhampton, was jailed for two years and 10 months.
Jamie Hopson, from Wolverhampton but of no fixed address, was jailed for two and a half years.
Callum Hopson, of Vaughan Road, Willenhall, was jailed for two years and three months.
Greatrex, of Lunt Road, Bilston, was jailed for 15 months.
Jamie Hopson and McTaggart were also disqualified from driving, for 27 months and five years, five months respectively.
