Cross-border raiders have been jailed for burglaries and vehicle thefts after a dramatic chase through Ryedale captured on a police camera.
Charlie Maurice Dunn, aged 25, of Heathfield Drive, Hartlepool, and Jack Setchell, aged 23, of Seaton Lane, Hartlepool, were sentenced to four years and six months and four years’ imprisonment respectively at York Crown Court yesterday (Tuesday).
Dunn pleaded guilty to one house burglary, three farm building burglaries, one theft of a quad bike, three aggravated taking of vehicles and assaulting an emergency worker, a police officer.
Setchell pleaded guilty to one house burglary, three farm building burglaries, one theft of a quad bike, and two aggravated taking of vehicles.
They have also been banned from driving for five years and three months and five years respectively, and both must do extended driving tests.
How the pursuit began
The four incidents and a police pursuit too place in Amotherby, Great Habton, Little Habton, Kirby Misperton and Slingsby between 2.30am and 8.30am on Thursday 2 June last year.
A quadbike with a crop sprayer attached and Ford Fiesta car were taken from the first property following a two-in-one burglary where they broke in and took the keys.
Officers spotted the Fiesta at around 3am when it was being driven towards them. It rammed into their car when they attempted to block the road.
The Fiesta came to a halt and three men ran off towards the River Rye.
The victims bravely ran after the suspects and managed to catch up with one of them, but he was able to get away.
Then, at 5.45am, a report came in of a white Ford Transit van being stolen from a property at Great Habton.
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At just after 7am, a traffic cop in an unmarked car spotted the stolen Transit van heading east towards the A169 on Kirby Misperton Road, at Kirby Misperton.
It had three people inside, no front registration plate, and was towing an orange wood-chipper which became detached when the van turned onto the A169 towards Pickering.
It transpired that the suspects had earlier broken into a compound at a local holiday park and made off with tools, machinery and the wood-chipper.
The van stopped to allow the occupants to retrieve the wood chipper.
An officer then approached the vehicle on foot and instructed Dunn, the driver, to get out.
However, Dunn started the engine and accelerated away while the officer was holding him through the open door, causing bruising to the officer’s arm.
The officer’s unmarked vehicle was reverse rammed twice by Dunn as he tried to head back along Kirby Misperton Lane.
Another traffic cop joined the pursuit and the Transit van reversed into the marked police car which became too damaged to drive.
With more officers on the chase, the van sped off past The Grapes pub in Great Habton and onto a narrow track.
It smashed through a metal gate into fields to the south of the village. Footprints could be seen heading towards the north-west end of Little Habton.
Another chase
At the same time, two Firearms Support Unit vehicles were behind a black BMW X3 with three people inside on Great Habton Lane heading south towards Neasham Bridge.
The BMW, driven by Setchell, fails to stop and more police vehicles are damaged after being reverse rammed.
It makes off south to the B1257 and then goes straight over a junction and up a gravel track in the direction of Coneysthorpe.
The BMW goes out of sight, but it is briefly spotted on Castle Howard Road heading towards Slingsby and the pursuit continues.
Then a Firearms Support Unit car hits another vehicle not connected to the pursuit. Occupants of both vehicles sustain minor injuries.
Just before 8am, a report is made to the police of a vehicle crashing through a fence off Sycamore Close in Slingsby with three men running off.
Officers respond to further calls to the Force Control Room and witnesses who point them towards a field at the end of the campsite on Railway Street.
Connor was arrested after being found crouched in a bush behind a water treatment plant.
Moments later, the Dog Unit located Dunn and Setchell near Slingsby Village Hall where they were arrested at 8.30am.
Detective Constable Abbi Symes, from the Scarborough Investigation Hub, said: “The series of crimes committed by Dunn, Setchell and Connor on the morning of 2 June last year are shocking and disgraceful.
“Not only did they ruthlessly target rural communities in Ryedale without any hint of remorse, they also endangered the lives of police officers who were called in to help the burglary and vehicle theft victims.
“Our message is clear to other cross-border criminals that they enter North Yorkshire and the City of York at their peril.
“We will do everything in our power to keep our communities safe and secure.”
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