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Mum’s car terror

7:00am Saturday 5th July 2008

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A BRAVE mum has told how she narrowly avoided being mown down by thieves she confronted stealing her partner's lovingly-restored car.

Kerry White, of Hasler Road, Poole, was forced to leap out of the way when they drove the 1983 Ford Cortina straight at her as she tried to stop them escaping just before midnight on Thursday.

The 28-year-old said: "I ran out into the middle of the road and slammed my hands on the bonnet and shouted get out of the car.' "They reversed it, then aimed it straight at me. I jumped and just got out of the way.

"I managed to grab the corner of the bonnet. I was trying to push myself off, but I ended up running up the road holding on.

"When they got to the roundabout they just put their foot down. I let go, but I smacked my head on the car as it was speeding up. I think I was really, really lucky."

She added: "The only thing going through my head was my nine-year-old daughter who was still asleep in the flat. I'm just so glad I came off lightly."

Kerry said she raced out in just a dressing gown and underwear after hearing the thieves, and tried to head them off at nearby Tollerford Road.

Her partner Graham Danson, a 29-year-old mechanic, had only just finished restoring the car after a year's work.

Kerry added: "He basically rebuilt it. He'd only just got the MOT and insurance.

"I knew how much he loved it, and all the work and time he'd put in - I just wanted to stop them. That was my first reaction."

Graham told the Echo: "The car's gone, but she's still here - and that's the main thing. I'm just glad she's alright."

Kerry was taken to Poole Hospital and treated for concussion and is now recovering at home.

The distinctive estate vehicle is white, with blacked-out rear windows, alloy wheels and lowered suspension Police are looking for two white men in their late teens or early 20s. The driver was wearing a grey long-sleeved jacket and baseball cap, and the front seat passenger was wearing a long-sleeved dark top or jacket.

Detective Constable Sarah-Jane Gedge of Poole police said: "This was a callous act by the thieves and I'm committed to finding the two men who were seen driving off in the car."

Anyone with information should call Dorset Police in confidence on 01202 222222.

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hoppity, hamworthy says...
7:34am Sat 5 Jul 08

thank goodness this lady is ok a brave thing to do if not vry wise bearing in mind the headlines we read everyday. I understand her instinct to protect her property and especially knowing the importance of the car to her partner, i remember when my husband restored a car years ago and it was smashed up by a drunk driver he was devestated i hope these scum are caught but i suspect the car is already sold on.



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fisherman1964, Poole Dorset says...
11:51am Sat 5 Jul 08

What a brave thing to do but im not sure trying to stop a determined car thief is worth getting injured or worse for...when these low lifes are caught i hope the get the book slung at them

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davey2, canford heath says...
3:26pm Sat 5 Jul 08

hope they catch these scumbags,my wife and i had a rare aprillia 125 motorcycle that thieves tried too nick but the dogs stopped them,i suspect these thieves were known too this couple as the obviously knew a lot of work had gone into restoring the car,probably one of the little heath chavs.

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gobzilla, says...
7:33pm Sat 5 Jul 08

As a woman samething happened to me and my hubbie they broke into my garage but when they saw our yellow Reliant Robin they didn't bother so we were very lucky it had a brand new tyre on the front as well..

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laurie marsh, australia says...
11:48am Sun 6 Jul 08

Really, really lucky?
No car is worth a life, that is why we pay insurance!
Her courage is to be commended.
Her rational needs to be questioned.
You can always buy another 25 year old "heap of junk" and do it up but a nine year old kid needs a mother!

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Rich W, Bournemouth says...
2:56pm Sun 6 Jul 08

The culprits probably did this to get the Red Sea scuba-diving holiday they will receive as punishment under nu-labour....after all, under the next tory government all they'll get is a hug from Cameron if they wear their hoodies.


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hoppity, hamworthy says...
4:59pm Sun 6 Jul 08

Rich W wrote:
The culprits probably did this to get the Red Sea scuba-diving holiday they will receive as punishment under nu-labour....after all, under the next tory government all they'll get is a hug from Cameron if they wear their hoodies.
laughed a lot at this comment unfortunately very true

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hoppity, hamworthy says...
5:02pm Sun 6 Jul 08

gobzilla wrote:
As a woman samething happened to me and my hubbie they broke into my garage but when they saw our yellow Reliant Robin they didn't bother so we were very lucky it had a brand new tyre on the front as well..
you are an idiot if you cant respond sensibly dont write anything
you know the expression sarcasm is the lowest form of wit

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gobzilla, says...
6:13pm Sun 6 Jul 08

hoppit mickey

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Robert Ratcliffe, poole says...
6:45pm Sun 6 Jul 08

one less pointless car on the road from this 2 car family. well done i say

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hoppity, hamworthy says...
6:49pm Sun 6 Jul 08

Robert Ratcliffe wrote:
one less pointless car on the road from this 2 car family. well done i say
did miss something in this story isnt it about crime not how many cars you have? or am I reading your comment wrong robert

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GRIFF, Christchurch says...
8:48am Mon 7 Jul 08

Hope they catch these idiots, only thing is they will only get a mere slap on the wrists if they do.

Seem to be a few people posting on here who are a sandwich short of a picnic too.

Can understand the lady's emotions and why she went out and confronted them but was a very risky thing to do, luckily she got away ok, could of easily ran her down.

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gobzilla, kevvoland australia says...
9:13am Mon 7 Jul 08

8.48 above says] Seem to be a few people posting on here who are a sandwich short of a picnic too.

Its ok its only mental mickey with his glass half empty mentality - what a surprise!!.its raining on him Toomuch.

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laurie marsh, australia says...
12:12pm Mon 7 Jul 08

Would you care to re-write the last bit again so that the rest of us can see what it is that you are trying (not too successfully) to say?

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hoppity, hamworthy says...
4:33pm Mon 7 Jul 08

laurie marsh wrote:
Would you care to re-write the last bit again so that the rest of us can see what it is that you are trying (not too successfully) to say?
thank you laurie this person(gobzilla) who writes under a name which they have plagerised from someone else does nothing but write idiotic comments,now I like a joke but it is ridiculous I can only assume they are drunk or on something when I read the comments

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kwhite, poole says...
4:44pm Mon 7 Jul 08

Everyone has been in a situation before where there instincts take over and rational thought goes out the window. I may of been foolish in my actions but im not the type of person to allow people or in this case little chavs walk all over me or my family. I was lucky to come of so lightly and am grateful to everyone who has helped the police with their enquiries thanks to my actions ive been able to help the police considerably and now hopefully justice will be served.

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  HAL101, Bournemouth says...
11:40am Tue 8 Jul 08

kwhite wrote:
Everyone has been in a situation before where there instincts take over and rational thought goes out the window. I may of been foolish in my actions but im not the type of person to allow people or in this case little chavs walk all over me or my family. I was lucky to come of so lightly and am grateful to everyone who has helped the police with their enquiries thanks to my actions ive been able to help the police considerably and now hopefully justice will be served.
I believe you were absolutely right to take action, and if everyone did the same there would be considerably less crime. I, and I think most other people, have a great deal of respect for you.

In France there is a clear legal obligation to go to the aid of a person in trouble and also to be a witness.

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sisyphus, Newtown says...
5:15pm Tue 8 Jul 08

"He'd only just got the MOT and insurance". Have we all fallen for the reporter's "tragic brave near victim" story here? Maybe the theft wasn't as unexpected as it's made out to be?

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LUCKY ESCAPE: Kerry White and her partner Graham Danson and their beloved Cortina, inset, which was stolen LUCKY ESCAPE: Kerry White and her partner Graham Danson and their beloved Cortina, inset, which was stolen

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