Find footage of the pursuit here: https://we.tl/t-21k38Eqqi0vPcNGu  

Footage courtesy from NPAS footage © West Yorkshire Combined Authority 

Close working with our partners over the border in London led to the swift arrest, charge and imprisonment of a van thief.

After stealing the vehicle from outside a shop in Maldon High Street on Tuesday 14 April, 29 year old Anthony Lee was identified, pursued and jailed within 48 hours.

Anthony Lee

The opportunistic offender took the van after its owner briefly stepped away to drop off items at a nearby shop.

When the victim realised the vehicle was missing, he immediately dialled 999 and officers were dispatched to the area.

The van was tracked as Lee headed towards London.

He then drove dangerously, failing to stop for Metropolitan Police officers on the M25 and M11.

He clipped the front of a lorry as he swerved across lanes, before driving the wrong way along a slip road and into oncoming traffic.

Met officers continued the pursuit with support from a National Police Air Service helicopter.

Lee drove onto pavements and along a cycle path – putting pedestrians’ lives at risk – before abandoning the van and making off on foot.

He attempted to stroll away along a footpath, wrongly believing he was out of sight. However, the helicopter tracked him throughout, guiding officers on the ground.

The imagery was clear enough to identify exactly what he was wearing, right down to the colour of his shoes.

Lee, of St Albans, Hertfordshire, was arrested and brought back to Essex to face justice.

He was charged with aggravated vehicle taking, driving without insurance and driving while disqualified.

Appearing before magistrates on Thursday 16 April, Lee was jailed for a year, ordered to pay £500 in compensation to the van’s owner and handed a further driving ban of 18 months.

Sergeant Graham Thomas, of Maldon’s neighbourhood policing team, said:

“To steal a vehicle in such a brazen way is one thing.

Vehicle theft causes a huge amount of distress across Essex, which is why my officers treated this report as a priority.

To then put so many members of the public at risk through such appalling driving is utterly inexcusable.

The public can be reassured that we work closely with neighbouring forces and the excellent National Police Air Service to pursue offenders intent on stealing people’s hard earned property and risking lives.

These are exactly the sorts of offences my officers deal with every day, and we are determined to make a difference.”

Information from and with permissions https://essexpolicemedia.co.uk/