‘There must have been a pint on the line!’ Social media hails fearless pool player who continued potting balls even as a driver crashes a stolen Land Rover into the pub after …

• Jamie Kettle, 37, lost control of a stolen Land Rover Discovery on March 27
• Ploughed into the side of The Lockside pub in Worksop, Nottinghamshire
• Do YOU know the fearless pool player? email [email protected]

By Matt Strudwick[1] and Frankie Elliott[2]

Published: 16:47, 12 December 2023 | Updated: 16:47, 12 December 2023

A fearless pool player carried on potting balls even as a driver crashed a stolen Land Rover into a pub after a 110mph chase.

Shocking footage showed the moment Jamie Kettle, 37, lost control of a stolen Land Rover Discovery before ploughing into the side of The Lockside pub in Worksop, Nottinghamshire.

The dramatic CCTV pictures shows how two men playing pool avoided being hit by a matter of inches as the car smashed through the wall of the boozer on March 27, 2023.

But one of the players still managed to cooly blast the black into the corner pocket as Kettle careered into the wall.

Kettle ran off after the collision and waded into a canal in an attempt to avoid capture but he was located by specialist dog officers and arrested.

Body-cam footage shows the man being hauled soaking wet from the water by officers before being led away in handcuffs.

Do YOU know the fearless pool player? email [email protected]

The dramatic CCTV pictures shows how two men playing pool avoided being hit by a matter of inches as a Land Rover smashed through the wall of the boozer in Nottinghamshire

People on social media were left astonished as he carries on to pot the black as the pub wall crumbles behind him

One person on X said he should be nominated for the BBC's sports personality of the year.

Another said he showed 'outstanding compusure'

Many on X, formerly on Twitter, were left astonished the pool player carried on to pot the black despite the pub wall crumbling behind him.

One said he should be nominated for the BBC's sports personality of the year.

Another said he showed 'outstanding compusure'.

A third added: 'That's the kind of man you could depend upon in a crisis.'

Police said they earlier received a report of a Landrover Discovery being stolen from an address in Woodthorpe, Nottinghamshire.

Officers spotted the vehicle and followed it as it headed along the A614 towards Ollerton, hitting speeds of to up to 110mph in a 60mph zone.

Mr Kettle continued to drive dangerously, including overtaking vehicles at high speed, and going through red lights, before he drove into Worksop.

He was going too fast to negotiate a junction before colliding with the pub wall at high speed.

Fortunately, the stunned drinkers inside, including the pool players, were unharmed.

Mr Kettle, of Harworth, Nottinghamshire, was charged with aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and without insurance and criminal damage to the pub.

He was also charged with two counts of theft from a shop, witness intimidation and two counts of common assault of an emergency worker.

A court heard he aggressively resisted two police officers who were called to a disturbance at an address in Bircotes, on September 6, 2022.

He bent one of the officer's fingers back and spat at a second officer as they tried to defuse the situation.

Mr Kettle pleaded guilty to the offences and was jailed for two years at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday, December 8.

Officers spotted the vehicle and followed it as it headed along the A614 towards Ollerton, hitting speeds of to up to 110mph in a 60mph zone

Jamie Kettle, 37, lost control of a stolen Land Rover Discovery before ploughing into the side of The Lockside pub in Worksop, Nottinghamshire

Fortunately, the stunned drinkers inside, including the pool players, were unharmed

Mr Kettle pleaded guilty to the offences and was jailed for two years at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday, December 8

He was also banned from driving for three years and three months and must take an extended retest.

Sergeant Clint Gloyn, of Nottinghamshire Police, said after the case: 'Kettle's dangerous and erratic driving showed utter disregard for the safety of others.

'He continued to drive at speed in highly populated built-up areas before crashing into the pub.

'There were numerous people inside the pub at the time and also walking through the town centre.

'Extensive structural damage was caused to the pub but thankfully no-one was injured.

'I'm glad we were able to bring this case before the courts and show that this type of criminality is unacceptable and offenders who put other people's safety at risk in this way will be robustly dealt with.'

Do YOU know the fearless pool player? email [email protected]

References

1. ^ Matt Strudwick (www.dailymail.co.uk)
2. ^ Frankie Elliott (www.dailymail.co.uk)