Moment drunken thugs plough stolen dairy van through a wall after violently attacking milkman making his rounds

• The men, aged 20 and 19, attacked the milkman in Basford, Nottingham in 2022

By Elizabeth Haigh[1]

Published: 13:00, 16 January 2024 | Updated: 13:02, 16 January 2024

Two drunken thugs who violently attacked a milkman in the early hours of the morning took his dairy van on a joyride before crashing into a wall leaving the vehicle floating in a pool of milk, CCTV footage shows.

Rico Siddell, 20, and Luke Solomon, 19, targeted the milkman while he was on his rounds in Basford, Nottingham[2], on March 17 2022.

He was reversing the Volkswagen flatbed float in Vernon Park Drive at 3.45am when Solomon approached, picked up a bottle of milk and hurled it through the driver's side window.

The victim drove away but was chased by Solomon on a bike and eventually had to stop at traffic lights.

Footage shows the moment the pair careered into and straight through a brick wall before fleeing the scene.

Rico Siddell, 20, and Luke Solomon, 19, targeted the milkman while he was on his rounds in Basford, Nottingham, before crashing the vehicle

After the milkman was attacked he tried to call police but the phone was grabbed from his hand by Solomon who also took the keys from the ignition.

After the victim got out of the van, he was punched in the face by Solomon and then attacked from behind by Siddell.

He was punched repeatedly to the head by both offenders and briefly lost consciousness.

The victim told detectives he thought they were going to kill him.

He needed stitches to his head and suffered further injuries to his leg and back.

The pair drove off in the van and careered into a wall in Tewskbury Drive, Basford, at around 4.05am.

Police found the float embedded in the wall in a pool of milk with smoke coming from the bonnet.

Siddell and Solomon were both still drunk when they are arrested nearby.

Solomon was taken to Queen's Medical Centre for treatment to his injuries and repeatedly kicked police officers.

Siddell, of Wide Bargate, Boston, Lincolnshire, pleaded guilty to robbery on November 2 2023.

CCTV footage shows the moment the van careered through a brick wall before the two men fled the scene

Solomon, of Lace Street, Nottingham, admitted two counts of robbery and assault of an emergency worker.

Both were sentenced on Monday to two years in a young offenders' institution, suspended for 21 months, and ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work, as well as 20 rehabilitation activity requirements days.

Solomon was additionally made to complete a six-month alcohol abstinence requirement course.

Detective Constable Ben Hensell, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: 'This was an unprovoked, prolonged and violent attack on a victim who was simply trying to earn a living.

'It must have been a frightening experience for him and he required hospital treatment for some nasty injuries.

'Siddell and Solomon could then easily have harmed other people when they drove the van at speed and crashed it into a wall.

'Solomon went on to assault two police officers and made vile comments and threats to them in front of patients and hospital staff who were trying to help him.

'Robbery is a deeply unpleasant crime which can have an emotional impact on victims which goes far beyond physical harm.

'I hope the victim and wider community are reassured by the police response, which saw us quickly arrest and charge these two individuals.'

References

1. ^ Elizabeth Haigh (www.dailymail.co.uk)
2. ^ Nottingham (www.dailymail.co.uk)
3. ^ Nottingham (www.dailymail.co.uk)
4. ^ Crime (www.dailymail.co.uk)