The GoFundMe appeal to raise £50,000 for a man who was jailed after accidentally knocking down two men who had tried to take a stolen motorbike has been closed after raising £170,000 in days. Dad Adam White, 34, appeared on Channel 4 show 24 Hours in Police Custody after he chased burglars in his car in a "moment of madness".
A viewer shocked by the fact Adam was jailed - after spending £50,000 on lawyers - launched a GoFundMe appeal after the show aired. That appeal has now raised £170,000.
Adam said his decision to drive after the intruders cost him his £60k-a-year job, his freedom and his unborn child. Adam, 34, said he will regret what he did for the rest of his life, adding: "It was a moment of madness. Thank God no one died. I have paid a high price.”
He spent £50,000 on legal fees before being convicted at Luton Crown Court of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and sentenced to 22 months in January, reports the Mirror.
The show heard that White, who had no previous convictions, gave chase when two men tried to make off on a stolen motorbike. He lost control of his car and Taylor Benford and Ryan Paul ended up in hospital after coming off the motorbike. Speaking to The Sunday People about his prison nightmare, White said: “The first week was so hard, I couldn’t stop crying.
“My worst moment was when a cellmate went crazy and smashed the place up. He ripped off the toilet seat and threw it at the guards. He also threw the TV at them. I was sat in the corner of the cell thinking he was going to attack me. He also started self-harming, slicing his arms with a razor blade.
"I also saw fights inside. I was stood at my cell door and saw two guys swinging at each other down the landing. There was a kettle on the floor. They had put fabric softener in the kettle and boiled it. When the fabric softener boils it goes gloopy and sticks to people like napalm. I was locked up alongside drug dealers and murderers – some of the other inmates called me a ‘civilian’ and said I didn’t belong in jail.”
The case was so stressful that a month after the incident Lindsay felt compelled to abort their baby, their first together. White said: “It was sickening having to make the decision to abort the baby. I wish we had a little brother or sister to show the other kids.”
He recalled the night in September 2019 when he saw Benford and Paul on his home CCTV trying to break in. He grabbed the keys to his Mercedes 4x4 and chased the pair. He said: “They hit a Mercedes and I hit a truck. It all happened within three minutes.
“My engine was on fire, alarms were going off and the airbag was in my face. I couldn’t open the driver’s side door so I had to kick it open. I ran to a woman’s house and asked her to call the police and my wife.”
Benford fractured several bones in the crash, while Paul suffered a brain bleed. At Luton Crown Court, the pair, both 25, who have a string of previous convictions between them, were given suspended sentences and 200 hours of community service.
The incident left White and funeral director Lindsay in dire financial straits. Now Benford and Paul are apparently trying to sue White through his insurance company, allegedly for up to £1 million, over their injuries. White, who has a new a job as an electrician, said: “If someone comes to my house again I’m not going to chase them.”
A police spokesman said: “This episode is an important reminder that people must not take the law into their own hands. The best thing to do when a crime is happening is to call 999.”
Adam was released in September and now wears an ankle bracelet. Benford and Paul were not sentenced to prison. After hearing that story, Scott Tulloch wrote in a GoFundMe description: “He was put away for 22 months for knocking them off their STOLEN bike, and they got ZERO prison time. He spent £50k of his life savings. Let’s get it back to him!!
“I have been in touch with Adam's wife, Lindsay, who will be transferring the funds directly from the fundraiser. Thank you for all the support so far.”
Tulloch raised more than £170,000, prompting Adam and his wife to close the GoFundMe.
Adam wrote on Twitter: “We hope everyone has an amazing Christmas and New Year. Thank you, everyone, from the bottom of our hearts.
“We have now requested the go-fund me to close and Lindsay has made a message below.”
