Fuel thief who injured police in pursuit jailed

A serial fuel thief who seriously injured two police officers during an hour-long pursuit in a tourist hotspot has been jailed.

It was a "miracle" nobody was killed when Scott Watt, 34, led police through the Yorkshire Dales in his damaged car, colliding with multiple vehicles and risking lives in September 2023, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Watt, who has a history of dangerous driving and driving whilst disqualified, also repeatedly stole diesel from a fuel station in Hartlepool.

He was jailed for nine years and four months for 30 offences, including wounding a police officer with intent to avoid apprehension and multiple counts of making off without payment.

Watt was being pursued by police in the Teesside area when he drove a Skoda through the Yorkshire Dales at about 11:00 BST on 14 September last year, prosecutor Jonathan Gittins said.

He drove at speed along narrow country lanes frequented by pedestrians and cyclists, clipped multiple vehicles and rammed a police car as he headed through Richmond, Reeth and into Hawes.

Mr Gittins said police backed off several times due to fears Watt could crash into other road users, as it was a nice summer's day with plenty of people out and about.

His car became increasingly damaged and ended up "crabbing" down the road due to its broken steering, but Watt kept driving at up to 50mph as police followed, the court heard.

Watt, of no fixed address, ignored all pleas to stop and ended up going down a road towards a closed bridge at Appersett, narrowly missing workmen as he hit a verge.

When his car momentarily stopped, two police officers attempted to get in but Watt drove away, knocking one against a wall and dragging the other 66ft (20m) along the road.

Both suffered multiple cuts and and while their wounds were "serious", they were lucky not to have had worse injuries or been killed, the court heard.

Watt then crashed through a drystone wall, causing £400 worth of damage and was finally detained when the car rolled on to its roof.

The pursuit happened days after the defendant had led officers on another chase near Hartlepool.

At about 03:40 BST, an officer spotted a car with a tyre missing driving along the A19.

Sparks were flying as the vehicle driven by Watt reached 70mph, with multiple police vehicles carrying out a boxing manoeuvre to stop him, Mr Gittins said.

Between 24 and 31 July last year, Watt made four visits to the Shell garage on Easington Road in Hartlepool and was seen pretending to fill his car with diesel before passing the hose to the back of the car for an accomplice to fill up barrels.

On each occasion Watt then drove away without paying, stealing about £270 worth of fuel.

He had 24 previous convictions for 53 offences, including several counts of dangerous driving and driving while disqualified.

He also had a dozen counts of making off without payment from fuel stations dating back to 2018.

In mitigation, Michael Cahill said Watt's crimes were motivated by drug addiction for which he was getting treatment while being held in HMP Hull.

Mr Cahill said the police pursuit had been a "wake up call" and Watt was "very sorry", adding he was "relieved" the officers were not more seriously injured.

Judge Joanne Kidd said it was "nothing short of miraculous nobody was killed" and she had "no doubt" the police officers saved lives by pursuing Watt.

He was also banned from driving for nine years and eight months.

Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].