Man jailed for injuring officers during pursuit after fuel thefts

Scott Watt, 34, a repeat offender for fuel theft, has been sentenced to prison after seriously injuring two police officers during an hour-long chase in a popular tourist area. Teesside Crown Court was informed that it was “miracle” no fatalities occurred when Watt drove his damaged vehicle through the Yorkshire Dales, colliding with numerous other cars and endangering lives in September 2023. Watt, who had prior convictions for dangerous driving and operating a vehicle while disqualified, also engaged in repeated thefts of diesel from a fuel station located in Hartlepool. His sentence amounted to nine years and four months in prison for a total of 30 offences, which encompassed wounding a police officer with intent to evade capture and several instances of making off without payment. According to prosecutor Jonathan Gittins, Watt was being pursued by law enforcement in the Teesside area when he operated a Skoda vehicle through the Yorkshire Dales around 11:00 BST on 14 September last year. He proceeded at high speed along constricted rural roads commonly used by walkers and cyclists, made contact with several vehicles, and collided with a police car while traversing Richmond, Reeth, and continuing towards Hawes. Mr Gittins stated that officers disengaged from the pursuit on multiple occasions, concerned that Watt might collide with other individuals on the road, given that it was a pleasant summer’s day with many people present. The vehicle sustained progressive damage, eventually moving “crabbing” along the road because of its compromised steering, yet Watt continued driving at speeds reaching 50mph while police trailed him, the court was informed. Watt, who has no fixed address, disregarded all requests to halt and proceeded along a road leading to a closed bridge at Appersett, nearly striking workmen as he impacted a verge. Upon his car briefly coming to a stop, two police officers tried to enter the vehicle, but Watt accelerated, pushing one officer against a wall and pulling the other 66ft (20m) down the road. Both officers sustained numerous lacerations, and although their injuries were “serious,” they were fortunate not to have suffered more severe harm or death, the court was told. Subsequently, Watt collided with a drystone wall, resulting in £400 in damage, and was ultimately apprehended when his vehicle overturned onto its roof. This chase occurred mere days after the defendant had engaged officers in a separate pursuit close to Hartlepool. Around 03:40 BST, an officer observed a car missing a tyre traveling on the A19. Sparks emanated from the vehicle, operated by Watt, as it attained speeds of 70mph, prompting several police vehicles to execute a boxing manoeuvre to bring him to a halt, as stated by Mr Gittins. From 24 to 31 July last year, Watt visited the Shell garage on Easington Road in Hartlepool four times, where he was observed feigning to refuel his car with diesel before handing the hose to the rear of the vehicle for an accomplice to fill barrels. Each time, Watt subsequently departed without rendering payment, illicitly taking approximately £270 worth of fuel. He possessed a record of 24 prior convictions for 53 offences, among them multiple charges of dangerous driving and driving while disqualified. Additionally, he faced twelve charges of making off without payment from fuel stations, with these incidents extending back to 2018. During mitigation, Michael Cahill stated that Watt’s criminal acts stemmed from a drug addiction, for which he was receiving treatment while incarcerated at HMP Hull. Mr Cahill conveyed that the police chase served as a “wake up call” for Watt, who was “very sorry” and expressed being “relieved” that the officers did not sustain more severe injuries. Judge Joanne Kidd remarked that it was “nothing short of miraculous nobody was killed” and affirmed she had “no doubt” that the police officers preserved lives through their pursuit of Watt. Furthermore, he received a driving prohibition for a period of nine years and eight months.