Two thieves caught after police chase along Shropshire border
Two thieves led police on a pursuit along the Powys/Shropshire border which forced a walker to leap head first into a hedge to avoid being run over.
William Evans and Leon Roberts broke into six outbuildings in the grounds of homes in villages in North Powys, stealing chainsaws, a motorcycle and leaf blowers before being chased by the police helicopter and a car. The duo both appeared at Welshpool Magistrates Court yesterday, where they admitted a number of charges relating to the incident. Evans, 18, of Bryn Mally Park, Pentre Broughton, Wrexham, and Roberts, 20, of Cherry Tree Drive, St Martins, near Oswestry, both admitted six charges of burglary.
Roberts also admitted charges of failing to stop when directed by a police constable; driving a Ford Transit otherwise than in accordance with a licence; driving with no insurance and driving without due care and attention. Mrs Helen Tench, prosecuting, said reports had been made in the Llanerfyl, Llanwddyn and Llanfyllin areas of burglaries in the days leading up to August 28.
She said that a white Ford Transit van had been mentioned as a suspicious vehicle and when it was seen the force helicopter was launched and a blue light and siren pursuit followed .
"The pursuit continued a male walker was heading towards the van and he was forced to dive into the hedgerow to avoid a collision."
She added that Roberts, the driver, got out and ran across two fields and a river when he was caught by an officer and dog. He was told to remain calm but showed aggression so was bitten onto the arm by the dog. Magistrates adjourned sentencing until October 8 back at the court, but warned the duo a custodial sentence was an option open to the court.
