Thug Drags Victim Along Road After Phone Scam in Kirkby-in-Ashfield
A shocking robbery in Nottinghamshire left a man battered after he was dragged down the road clinging to a thief’s car. The terrifying incident unfolded on January 25, 2023, after a simple phone sale turned violent.
Fake Buyer Plays a Deadly Game
The victim listed his Samsung phone online and was contacted by a man using the name “Ben Hough.” The pair arranged to meet at the victim’s home in Kirkby-in-Ashfield at around 7pm. But the buyer was no honest customer—he was 23-year-old Terence Maughan, who faked a £620 bank transfer using a phoney phone screen from an Irish bank.
When the victim insisted the payment hadn’t cleared and tried to get Maughan to return later, the crook refused. Instead, Maughan pocketed the phone, left an empty box behind, and drove off.
Harrowing Dragged-Along-Road Escape
Desperate to get his phone back, the victim blocked Maughan’s car door. That’s when things turned brutal. The victim’s right arm got caught in the steering wheel while his other arm clung to Maughan. Ignoring screams, the thug sped off—dragging him along the road.
After briefly slowing down, Maughan pushed the victim out into the middle of the road before speeding away. The victim suffered painful injuries and needed hospital treatment.
Justice Served with Suspended Sentence
Police matched fingerprints left on the phone box to Maughan, who stood trial at nottingham/" title="Nottingham" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Nottingham Crown Court on November 6. He was handed a 10-month jail term—suspended for 18 months—plus 20 rehab days and a 12-month driving ban.
Detective Inspector James Oakton said: “This was an extremely upsetting ordeal for the victim who was simply trying to sell a phone. It was incredibly reckless and dangerous to speed off, risking serious harm to the victim. Stay vigilant when using online marketplaces and always take precautions.”
