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Latest > High speed chase ends in golf burglar capture
Jan 31st, 2017
High speed chase ends in golf burglar capture
And 16 months prison time
Words: Florida Dayton
As planned burglaries go, well, this wasn't. And it resulted in prison time for two men who stole alcohol and a measly £50 from the till.
Jamie Crake and Marcus Thomas admitted breaking into The Grove golf club in Porthcawl, Wales, UK, threatening a cleaner with a crowbar, raiding the bar and grabbing cash from the till, in the early hours of December 29 last year.
Sentencing at Cardiff Crown Court, Judge Michael Fitton QC told Crake – who had 15 previous convictions: “You are going to have to sort yourself out.”
The court heard the incident occurred around 4.30am at the golf club in Nottage after the cleaner heard the sound of glasses clinking and saw the men behind the bar.
Golfers at The Grove, Porthcawl, yesterday. Note how none of these golfers appear to have a crowbar or a desperate need for £50
Prosecutor Gareth James He said: “One of them was carrying a crowbar and told him to stay back.”
The court heard the cleaner ran to the other end of the building and called the police. Mr James said the man was “shocked” and the incident left him scared to go to work.
Grove members at the club yesterday. All drinks paid for we understand...
A sharp eyed police officer recognised the defendant in a red Ford Fiesta on Commercial Road and approached the vehicle.
Prosecutor James went on: “The driver accelerated sharply and the officer saw smoke coming from the front tyres.”
This resulted in a high speed chase during which Thomas drove through several red lights and swerved sharpy, narrowly missing two pedestrians who were crossing the road.
He then swerved again, drove down the wrong side of the road, mounted the pavement and drove along it.
A golfer at The Grove yesterday. Reports suggest that he drove home in an orderly fashion and stayed under the speed limit...
Thomas was finally captured after other officers were alerted and their pursuit had him cornered.
Crake, 27, from Water Street in Port Talbot, admitted burglary. The defendant's brief argued the burglary was opportunistic, rather than planned, and there was no ransacking.
Judge Fitton noted Crake had “a terrible record” and jailed him for 16 months, as well as ordering him to pay a £140 victim surcharge.
Thomas, 27, from Western Avenue in Port Talbot, admitted burglary, dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.
And the moral of the story is – never mess with our golf clubs
