A thug who lured a pizza delivery driver into an ambush and robbed his car at knifepoint remains on crutches months after smashing it into a tree.
Adam Challoner, 26, was hospitalised for three weeks after being pulled from the destroyed Vauxhall Astra on Netherley Road, Tarbock Green, on April 28 this year. The crash, which was not witnessed and involved no other vehicles, came only eight minutes after the terrifying robbery on Hastie Close in Netherley, Liverpool Crown Court heard today.
The driver, named in court as Mr Ellis, was sent to deliver the pizza after a call from Challoner's mobile phone to a takeaway at 10.10pm that night. However, as Mr Ellis pulled up, he was approached by Challoner, of Bechers, Widnes, who snatched his car keys from his hand.
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Summing up the case, the judge Recorder Philip Barnes said: "When he tried to snatch them back you pulled out a knife approximately eight inches in length and began slashing at him, although fortunately there was no contact. Mr Ellis understandably backed off, and you got into his car, closed the door and locked him out. As he tried to open the door you drove away."
There were no witness accounts of how Challoner drove the vehicle, but eight minutes later residents heard a loud bang on Netherley Road, around three miles away from the scene of the robbery, and found Challoner trapped in the driver's seat. Alaric Walmsley, prosecuting, said: "The damage was extensive. As described in the police reports the vehicles was wrapped around a well established tree. There was no evidence of any defect or fault with the vehicle which could have contributed to the damage."
Challoner sustained serious injuries in the crash and remained in Aintree Hospital for three weeks. The court heard that Challoner, who appeared in court via video-link from HMP Altcourse, remains on crutches to this day and he could be seen hobbling away at the end of the hearing.
Mr Walmsley said officers from Merseyside Police travelled to the hospital on May 12, after he had received treatment, and arrested him. He told the court Challoner made some "significant statements" on his arrest, including "there will be DNA all over that car" and "I wish I never done it, I wish I never crashed it". However in his police interviews he claimed he "could not remember" what happened.
The court heard Challoner indicated he would deny the offences at his first appearance in Liverpool Magistrates' Court, but then pleaded guilty to robbery, possession of a bladed article, aggravated vehicle taking, driving without insurance and driving without a licence at the crown court.
Mr Walmsley said Challoner had 20 previous convictions for 46 offences, including multiple cases of stealing cars as well as possession of a knife and assaults. Michael O'Brien, defending, said his client had been experiencing serious mental health problems and was receiving treatment, including medication, while in prison.
Mr O'Brien said Challoner reported that his mood and mental health had improved since he was remanded in custody and was placed on medication. He told the court: "He was clearly suffering from poor mental health at the time of these offences. There's some suggestion the driving and the accident was a suicide attempt, and that has been borne in mind by the mental health liaison team in the prison."
Passing sentence, Judge Barnes said: "That accident hospitalised you for something in the order of three weeks, which is a measure of the force with which you hit that wall and tree...I have seen a long letter from your mother and it's plain that you have led a difficult life at times."
However the judge referred to Challoner as a "habitual car thief" and said the defendant's mental health issues were "no excuse" for the robbery of Mr Ellis's car and its destruction in the crash.
Challoner was jailed for 35 months for the robbery with an additional five months for the aggravated vehicle taking, while a six month sentence for possessing the knife was left to run concurrently with the robbery sentence, making a total of 40 months.
He was also disqualified from driving for two years from the date of his release from custody.
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