Bike thief jailed for stealing cop car and dragging officer along road

A MOTORCYCLE THIEF has been jailed for a year and ten months after admitting driving, theft and assault offences.

Southampton Crown Court yesterday heard how police officers in an unmarked car stopped a stolen motorcycle at the junction of West End Road and Chalk Hill, Southampton, at around 3pm on September 11, 2018.

Nathanual Hemy, 20, of Keynsham Road, Southampton, was riding the motorcycle, which had been stolen from an address in Fareham two days earlier.

He immediately ran from the scene, but when police caught up with him and attempted to detain him he further evaded custody by driving the unmarked car away, dragging an officer along the road for a short distance. After the officer let go, he continued to drive the vehicle dangerously through a residential area. The male officer sustained grazes to his arms and knees and was treated at  Southampton General Hospital. Hemy was arrested the following day.

Hemy appeared at Southampton Crown Court yesterday (Tuesday 20 November), where he pleaded guilty to charges of taking a motor vehicle without consent, aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified, assault and escape from lawful custody.

He was sentenced to more than three years and nine months in prison, however he will only serve one year and 10 months of that, as his sentences will run concurrently. 

The sentence breakdown included:

Causing actual bodily harm – 1 year 10 months

Aggravated vehicle taking – 10 months (to run concurrently)

Dangerous Driving – 10 months (to run concurrently)

Taking a motor vehicle without consent – 4 weeks (to run concurrently)

Disqualified Driving – 4 weeks (to run concurrently)

Disqualified Driving – 4 weeks (to run concurrently)

Escape Lawful Custody – 2 weeks (to run concurrently)

Following the hearing, Acting Superintendent Phil Lamb commented: “Hemy’s actions that day were reckless and dangerous.

“He put officers and members of the public at risk of serious harm simply in order to evade arrest.

“It took up a significant amount of resources responding to this incident and in later detaining him.

“I would like to thank all the officers who responded at the time or who were involved later in bringing Hemy to justice, and also the public who came forward to help us find him.”