Electrician Jailed After Chasing and Running Burglars Off Road – Thugs Now Suing Him for £1 Million
An electrician was locked up for chasing two burglars armed with bolt cutters and a crowbar – and running them off the road in his Mercedes 4×4. Meanwhile, the criminals escaped serious punishment and are now suing him for £1 million over the injuries they suffered.
Burglars Flee After Being Forced Off Road
Adam White, 34, spotted the masked raiders breaking into homes in Leighton Buzzard, Beds, back in September 2019. He jumped into his car and pursued them in a daring roadside chase. The burglars, Taylor Benford and Ryan Paul, both 25, crashed their stolen motorcycle and were seriously injured.
A 999 call later reported the crash, with the burglars suffering multiple broken bones, a fractured skull, and brain bleeding. Yet despite their injuries, the pair escaped prison – getting suspended sentences and 200 hours of community service.
Electrician Faces Jail as Burglars Fight Back with Lawsuit
Adam was sentenced to 22 months’ jail at Luton Crown Court for reckless driving and endangering others. “That night is like a recurring nightmare,” he said. “I feel like I’ve been treated like a criminal.”
His wife, Lindsay, 34, revealed the criminal duo is now suing Adam’s insurers for £1 million. She says the couple’s life was torn apart – Adam lost his job, legal fees hit £50,000, and she was forced to have an abortion because they couldn’t afford to support a pregnancy.
“I believe they do it because they can; perhaps they don’t want to work, maybe they just want to get by on theft,” Lindsay said. “Nothing would have happened if Adam hadn’t gone outside.”
Police and Public Weigh In on Controversial Case
Footage from Channel 4’s 24 Hours In Police Custody put the spotlight on this divisive case. A witness said: “I’ve been broken into seven times in a year. I wouldn’t want to be held accountable if I was at home with my family and people were breaking in with crowbars.”
Adam told police, “I didn’t mean to hit or knock them; that car is my pride and joy. I had no desire to harm them.”
Bedfordshire Police issued a statement reminding the public that taking the law into your own hands can have “enormous consequences.” The force said Adan was found guilty by a jury, while the burglars pleaded guilty and received lighter sentences.
“The best thing you can do when a crime is happening is call 999,” the police added, promising to improve response times and increase patrols in crime hotspots.
The Legal Angle: Sentencing and Burglary Guidelines
The maximum sentence for domestic burglary is 14 years, but for attempted burglary, courts adjust the penalties accordingly. Where there are multiple convictions, a minimum three-year sentence applies unless there are exceptional circumstances.
In this tangled case, Adam faces prison while the burglars walk free and even try to claim compensation – sparking outrage among locals and the nation.
