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Woman thrown out of moving van as thief drives off in it

Jonathon Bratley, 33, of The Cliff, Scunthorpe, left, and Richard Smelt, 31, of Ashdown Avenue, Scunthorpe, right, were sentenced to over four years in prison © Humberside Police Jonathon Bratley, 33, of The Cliff, Scunthorpe, left, and Richard Smelt, 31, of Ashdown Avenue, Scunthorpe, right, were sentenced to over four years in prison

A woman was thrown out of a moving van as a thief drove off in it.

Jonathon Bratley, 33, of The Cliff, Scunthorpe[1], and Richard Smelt, 31, of Ashdown Avenue, Scunthorpe, were sentenced at Grimsby Crown Court[2]. A man approached the woman working at the back of a company van and he entered the driver’s seat before driving off with the woman in the back.

She was then thrown out, sustaining multiple injuries on Sunday, 9 May, 2021. The pair were arrested[3] on Friday, 14 may, on James Street, Grimsby[4], on suspicion of conspiracy to commit theft.

Humberside Police[6] conducted extensive enquiries, including CCTV clearly identifying the pair at the scene. The pair were sentenced to a combined four years and eight months after being found guilty by a jury.

Detective Constable Andy Taylor said: “The victim was lucky not to have suffered any significant injuries after she was thrown from the van in this senseless attempt to steal it from someone who was simply working hard and minding their own business.

“The vehicle was quickly recovered, undamaged, and returned to the company she was working for at the time; Bratley and Smelt did this all for their own worthless amusement which resulted in an innocent member of the public sustaining unnecessary injuries. They show no remorse or consideration for what they’ve done and the affects it has undoubtedly had on the victim.

“I hope the result at court and knowing the pair are behind bars allows the victim to feel that a sense of justice has been achieved. This level of criminality will not be tolerated, and we will continue to work tirelessly to gather strong evidence and build impenetrable cases in order for justice to be served.”

References

  1. ^ Scunthorpe (www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk)
  2. ^ Grimsby Crown Court (www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk)
  3. ^ arrested (www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk)
  4. ^ Grimsby (www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk)
  5. ^ Four injured in four-vehicle ‘horror’ crash in Weelsby Road Grimsby (www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk)
  6. ^ Humberside Police (www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk)