A ‘mindless and dangerous’ Bristol man who went on a crime spree in Swindon, then drove the wrong way down the M4 in a dramatic police chase has been jailed. His two accomplices have been convicted and given community orders too.
Scott Lippiatt was at the wheel of a stolen Citroen Berlingo loaded with stolen goods when it was surrounded by police on the approach to junction 16 of the M4 in West Swindon. He managed to escape by driving through a red light, over a grass verge and ended up driving the wrong way down the M4.
Police gave chase and three firearms units managed to force the stolen car to crash into the central reservation of the M4.
Lippiatt pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to stop, multiple counts of theft from a vehicle, driving a vehicle without the owner’s consent, going equipped for theft, driving with no licence and no insurance, and ended up at Swindon Crown Court on Friday, August 9, where he was jailed for 17 months.
The 23-year-old, from Stanier Road in Siston Hill, near Mangotsfield, was caught in what turned out to be a major police operation on the evening of January 15, after Wiltshire Police’s burglary team identified a vehicle driving around Swindon that had been involved in a number of thefts.
Tools had been reported stolen from a vehicle in Beatrice Street, Swindon, and motocross bikes, equipment and clothing that had been reported stolen from Austin Road in the town.
Police spotted the stolen Citroen Berlingo, which was travelling with stolen plates, on the A3102 at Blagrove, the dual carriageway heading out of Swindon towards the M4.
“Officers attempted to stop the vehicle whilst stationary at traffic lights, however, the Citroen broke out of the containment, through a red light and mounted a grass verge and drove in the wrong direction on the opposite side of the motorway,” said a spokesperson for Wiltshire police. “Three firearms units made contact with the vehicle causing it to crash at low speed into the central reservation. All three men were arrested and taken to hospital as a precaution before being conveyed to custody,” she added.
Two other Bristol men involved were given community orders for the roles they played – John Matthews, 39, of The Gastons, Lawrence Weston, and Chaz Bevan, 26, of Broadbury Road, Knowle West.
Police in Swindon condemned Lippiatt’s actions. “By doing what he did, Lippiatt showed no respect for other motorists by driving in such a mindless and dangerous manner with the potential of causing multiple serious collisions,” said PC Warren Johnston.
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