A drunk and drugged father who stole a 24-tonne bulldozer from his workplace and embarked on a three-hour wrecking spree has been sentenced to 18 months in prison.
The Incident
Darren Coffey, 41, hijacked the enormous machine on November 8 last year with the intention of targeting a motor repair shop in Wolverhampton following a dispute with the business. He caused chaos on local roads and inflicted at least £8,000 worth of damage before being stopped after smashing into a Royal Mail lorry strategically positioned by police.
Coffey admitted charges including dangerous driving and criminal damage, and sobbed in the dock of Wolverhampton Crown Court as he was jailed on Wednesday.
Background
The court heard that Coffey had been in dispute with Willenhall Autos, in east Wolverhampton, over a vehicle he owned, and had threatened to burn it down and 'smash it up'. In a fit of rage, he stole a hired Caterpillar D6 bulldozer from his employer on the Staffordshire border at around 5:30pm. He called the police himself, telling them he was heading to the garage 'with two petrol cans', before driving along the A454.
Coffey reversed into traffic, hit police cars, and drove the wrong way down the carriageway. His rampage brought mayhem to Wolverhampton's ring road, Willenhall Road, and New Road in Willenhall town centre, where he was finally stopped at around 8:15pm.
Sentencing
Sentencing, Judge David Perry said a jail sentence was 'unavoidable' and added: 'He caused untold chaos to road users.' The judge stated: 'The offence is so serious that only custody can be justified. The least sentence I can impose is 18 months in prison.'
The court heard that the father-of-four had a history of cocaine and cannabis abuse along with previous convictions for drink driving, criminal damage, and motoring offences, but had not been in trouble since 2015. Ryan Hodgins, defending, said Coffey had a history of post-traumatic stress disorder and had sought help for his drug issues. He asked the judge to suspend the sentence, but it was denied.
Charges and Consequences
Coffey, of Wolverhampton, admitted dangerous driving, failing to stop, driving without a licence or insurance, threat to damage or destroy property, two counts of criminal damage, drink driving, aggravated vehicle taking, and vehicle damage. He must serve at least 40 per cent of the term before being released on licence, after which he will be subject to supervision for 12 months. He was banned from the road for an extended three years and nine months and must take an extended test before returning behind the wheel.
Describing the operation to stop Coffey's rampage, the judge said: 'Following authorisation by the assistant chief constable, a decision was made to block the path of the bulldozer with a HGV. To this end, a Royal Mail trailer was commandeered. He used the bulldozer to push the trailer out of the way, resulting in £2,508 worth of repairs to it. The machine itself needed £680 worth of repairs for damaged parts, and the overall cost of the damage caused was just over £8,000. He was under the influence of drink and drugs at the time, and the incident lasted from 5:50pm to 8:15pm. I have seen the video footage.'
The judge concluded: 'I have taken into account all that has been said and what the reports said about your prospect of rehabilitation. Set against that, you represent a risk, and because of the seriousness of the risk, the only means of punishment is immediate custody. I am going to have to send you to prison today. I know there will be an impact on your mental health and the consequences, but I do not think there is an alternative here.'
