A North Belfast man was jailed today (Wednesday) for ten months for hijacking a courier van armed with a knife.
Emmanuel Scott, 39, was told he will spend a similar period on supervised licence on his release from prison. Scott, of New Lodge Road, had previously pleaded guilty to charges of hijacking, driving whilst disqualified and driving with no insurance.
Belfast Crown Court heard that at around midday on December 8, 2021, a DHL courier was sitting in his Mercedes Sprinter van on the Springfield Road in West Belfast.
Read more: West Belfast man spared jail after being unlawfully at large from jail
Prosecutor David McNeill said: “As the driver went to make his delivery, he was approached by the defendant who held a knife to his left side and said: ‘Give me the keys of the van’.”
The driver handed over the keys before running off down the street while Scott drove off in the Sprinter van.
“At the junction of Earlscourt Street and Cavendish Street, a grey Renault Clio was parked,” said Mr McNeill.
“He approached the Clio from behind in the hijacked Sprinter van and collided with it four times, trying unsuccessfully to squeeze past it.
“People in the street were shouting ‘he stole the van’ and ‘he has got a knife’. The defendant got out of the van, threw away the keys and ran into a nearby bingo hall where he was later arrested by police.
“Officers noticed he was under the influence of drugs and a number of drugs such as cocaine, diazepam and temazepam were found in his system. During police interviews, Scott was candid about the amount of drink and drugs he had consumed prior to the hijacking.”
Defence solicitor advocate Paul Farrell said Scott had asked him to pass on a message to the victim, saying: “Tell him I am so sorry.”
Mr Farrell added that in a pre-sentence report, Scott had expressed his “genuine shame and remorse” for his actions.
Judge Neil Rafferty KC said Scott had 66 previous convictions, 41 of which were road traffic offences. He has two convictions for possession of an offensive weapon, 11 for driving whilst disqualified, five for dangerous driving and four for vehicle taking or attempted vehicle taking.
The judge said the defendant is currently a sentenced prisoner serving an 18 month jail term for driving offences which was imposed at Craigavon Crown Court in May 2022. Judge Rafferty also disqualified Scott from driving for five years.
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