High speed terror ride

Dec 8 2007 by Liz Hands, The Journal

A DELIVERY driver yesterday told of how he clung to the roof of his car as a thief drove it away at high speed.

Chris Binns, 28, woke up after hearing noises and found his house had been ransacked.

When he heard the engine of his Vauxhall Corsa revving outside, he sprinted out of his house in Olive Street, South Shields, wearing just his boxer shorts and a T-shirt, and threw himself over the car.

With his legs dangling over the windscreen, he clung to the roof enduring a terrifying ride, through the streets of South Shields, South Tyneside.

He said: “That car is my livelihood, so when I heard the engine revving outside, I instantly thought ‘I’m not letting some scumbag get away with it’.

“I was running on adrenaline, it was pumping through me, and I didn’t think about the consequences. I just leapt on to the car and clung on for dear life...”

He said the car hit around 50mph as it careered along Talbot Road via Boldon Lane to John Reid Road.

He said: “He picked up speed on the long stretch down John Reid Road and he smashed into a load of cones...

“It was really scary, but there was no way I was going to lose my car, so I dug in with all my strength and hung on.”

The car ground to a halt on Whiteleas Way and the thief half-opened the door and shouted to Mr Binns: “You’re not going to let go are you?”

When Mr Binns said no and began to clamber down to try and get into the car, the thief ran off.

Mr Binns ended up with just a minor graze on his right arm, and small cuts on his legs and hands.

Police are now hunting the thief, who’s described as 5’6 tall, with dark hair and a slim, medium build.