Whitchurch tractor driver foils hijack attempt

Alex Digby was was driving along a country lane to deliver hay bales when a man walked into the road clutching his chest and looking unsteady on his feet.

Concerned for the man's wellbeing, Mr Digby slowed down to check if he was okay. But a second man jumped out of the hedge and tried to get into the tractor.

Mr Digby was able to quickly put the tractor into gear and pull away.

The attempted tractor-jacking took place on Manor House Lane in Higher Heath, near Whitchurch, on Sunday evening.

Mr Digby, from Talwrn Green, said: "I was coming along the road and I saw a guy who looked ill or hurt stumbling around and my initial reaction was to stop and help him.

"As I was coming to a stop, out of the corner of my eye I could see a man jump out of a hedge. He then put his feet on the steps and grabbed the handle of the door.

"I know this wasn't right, either he had attacked this other guy or he wanted me.

"I managed to put the tractor into gear and pull away and he jumped off and as I looked in my rear view mirror I could see both the men stood watching me drive off.

"The thing is if I saw someone like that now I don't think I would stop and I'm not like that, but it was a horrible experience and I don't know what would have happened if I hadn't been able to get away.

"I'm just worried this could happen again now to some of the younger tractor drivers."

Mr Digby was driving a nearly-new John Deere R6140, worth £70,000, belonging to Nigel Vickers, of Mulsford Farm, Malpas, who he was working for.

Mr Vickers said he thinks this could be a new trend in criminals similar to car-jacking.

He said: " I think the reason it was done is because the modern tractors have chips in the keys, so the tractor is useless without the key, much like the modern cars.

"I think this is why someone tried to get it while the the keys were in the tractor.

"If they had of got it the tractor would have been insured, although I don't know where we would stand because the keys were in the tractor?"

Mr Vickers wants to warn other tractor drivers to be aware of the scam and to contact the police if they see anything suspicious.

West Mercia Police confirmed they attended the attempted hijacking scene shortly after the incident took place at 9.30pm on Sunday and searched the area, but did not find the perpetrators.

The men are both described as being of large build and wearing jeans, one with an orange/red top and the other a brown top.

Anyone with information that can assist the police should contact 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.