Man jailed for refuse lorry trail of destruction through Dorset (From Thisisdorset)

Man jailed for refuse lorry trail of destruction through Dorset

11:30am Tuesday 14th February 2012 in Latest By Catherine Bolado

A MAN has been sentenced to three years in prison for stealing a refuse lorry and smashing into police cars in a 70-mile chase across Dorset.

Lee Ivan James Hogben was sentenced to 12 months for aggravated vehicle taking, 21 months for dangerous driving and three months for driving while disqualified to run consecutively.

Following the judgement Hogben went on an abusive and expletive-laden outburst at Judge Roger Jarvis from the dock for which he later apologised.

The prosecution at Dorchester Crown Court said that the 28-year-old had declared to police officers days before the incident that the next time he saw a police car he would ram it.

Hogben, of Egmont Road, Poole, was being questioned by officers at the time with regard to another matter.

The defendant admitted taking the hook loader skip recycling vehicle from the West Dorset Services depot in Poundbury Industrial Estate late on Sunday, December 11.

It was immediately reported missing and police began an hour-long pursuit of the vehicle which passed through Dorchester, Sherborne, Bland-ford and finally stopped on the way to Poole.

Prosecutor Jennie Rickman said that on several occasions the lorry rammed police cars, attempted to drive into them, straddled the road and went the wrong way around roundabouts.

She read from the statement of PC Stephen Newton who had to reverse hard to try to get away from Hogben.

It said that: “I saw the lorry driving straight at us.

“I leaned to the left, thinking we were going to be seriously injured or killed.

“At the very last second it swerved and didn’t hit us.”

After ramming several police cars the vehicle began to stop close to the Beacon Hill Touring Park on the road between Blandford and Poole.

Miss Rickman said: “The driver was seen to jump out and run in front of the lorry. The handbrake had not been secured and the lorry kept moving and ran to him, pinning him between the lorry and a parked car.”

He received a hairline fracture to his leg and crush injuries. He appeared in court on crutches.

The court heard that Hogben had 31 appearances in court for a total of 85 offences including four for dangerous driving and 18 for driving while disqualified.

In mitigation Neil Hinton said Hogben had swerved and not hit the car with the two officers in.

He added: “The damage to the police cars looks more like scratch marks.

“Although it is accepted that damage was caused it wasn’t a substantial impact.”

Handing down his sentence Judge Jarvis said it was a very serious offence.

He said: “By any measure it was a most serious example of dangerous driving, made the worse because of your record and previous convictions for dangerous driving.”

&bulll; ROBERT Gould, leader of West Dorset District Council, said he was satisfied with the outcome of the sentencing.

He said: “The reckless actions of the driver endangered pedestrians, fellow drivers and the police.

“We must praise the police for their handling of the incident and ensuring nobody came to any harm.

“Significant damage was caused to the gates of the depot but the gates are useable and the site remains secure with CCTV coverage while repairs are arranged.”