William Gamble has been handed a 15-month prison sentence for shoplifting and ramming two police vehicles during a pursuit last October.

Gamble stole alcohol from the Aldi store on Peartree Lane, Cinder Bank, on 11th October and fled in a Peugeot 206. The vehicle registration was placed onto the police national computer.

In the early hours of 12 October, the registration triggered on an automatic number place recognition (ANPR) system in an unmarked police car – but the Peugeot driver refused to pull over.

A short police pursuit ensued through Brierley Hill which saw the offending vehicle running red lights and contravening traffic signs. The car rammed into the police vehicles several times causing thousands of pounds worth of damage before finally losing control on Tiled House Lane.

Unfortunately, the driver fled the scene but when dash cam footage was shown to the offender management team, PC Moore was able to identify William Gamble. He was further linked to the shoplifting incident by in store CCTV footage at Aldi.

Gamble was subsequently arrested, interviewed and charged with multiple driving offences, theft and criminal damage. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court.