Man jailed after knifepoint carjacking

Leroy Simpson, from Birmingham, admitted robbery and aggravated vehicle taking at Stafford Crown Court

A man has been jailed for nine years after admitting to stealing a car at knifepoint in Stafford.

Leroy Simpson, from Birmingham, admitted robbery and aggravated vehicle taking at Stafford Crown Court earlier this month.

Staffordshire Police said he carried out his offences in February after using a false name to arrange a viewing of a car in Great Bridgeford that was being sold on Facebook marketplace.

A judge also handed the 44-year-old a driving ban for eight years and five months and ordered him to take an extended re-test.

Police said Simpson took the car for a test drive while the owner sat in the passenger seat, and then drove into a cul-de-sac and pulled a knife on the victim, who got out and ran away.

Officers tracked down Simpson and a vehicle pursuit ensued, with the National Police Air Service (NPAS) tracking overhead as he drove at dangerous speeds, often on the wrong side of the road, police explained.

He was followed until he jumped out of the car at Hopwood Services in Birmingham and tried to run away on foot.

Officers found him near woodland and arrested him, said the Staffordshire force.

After the 5 August sentencing, PC Kadir Guler, the officer in charge of the case, said: “We welcome the sentence given to Simpson and hope it serves as clear message that such aggravated and serious crime in Stafford will not be tolerated.

“Simpson was callous in his efforts to maintain his alter ego while continuing with his ulterior motive to rob the car, proven by him taking a knife with him to the meeting.

“He could have easily caused serious injury or death while on his ten-mile drive across the M5 which ended [with] him crashing the stolen vehicle."