Men who rammed police cars during escape sentenced

Bernie Ward drove a car into several police vehicles

Three men who caused damage to police vehicles in an attempt to escape arrest have been sentenced.

The trio rammed one car head-on and drove into two others after officers tried to stop them in Pewsey, Wiltshire.

The car being driven by Bernie Ward and carrying John Ward and Wesley Ward had been spotted with possible stolen number plates on 19 November, 2024.

A sentencing hearing at Winchester Crown Court was told the men were all wearing balaclavas and gloves at the time, and tools that could be used for theft were found in their car.

The court heard several items were seized from inside the vehicle suggested the men had gone equipped to steal or had been involved in criminality.

These items included tools, a fire extinguisher, and cloned plates.

All three appeared at Winchester Crown Court for sentencing on 26 September.

Bernie Ward, 25, of Marlow Road, Buckinghamshire, was arrested and charged with handling stolen goods, going equipped to steal, dangerous driving and driving whilst disqualified.

He was sentenced to 12 months and disqualified from driving for 30 months.

John Ward, 22, of Station Approach, Ashford, Surrey, was charged with handling stolen goods, going equipped to steal and sentenced to 12 months suspended for 18 months.

He must also complete 120 hours of unpaid work.

Wesley Ward, 25, of High Street, Slough, was given a 12-month community order and ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid work after pleading guilty to going equipped to steal.

PC Ellie Lewis from Wiltshire Police said: "These individuals were determined to evade police, and damaged three police vehicles in their desperate attempts to flee.

"As all three defendants did not give an account, we will never know what they were planning to do or where they had been on the night they were stopped."