Robbery Suspect Jailed Following Accomplice’s Death in Collision

An individual has received a prison sentence following an attempted robbery of a village store and a subsequent vehicle collision that resulted in the death of his accomplice. Sonny Loveridge, aged 26, residing at Stretham Station Road, Wilburton, Cambridgeshire, received a sentence of 11 years and eight months at Peterborough Crown Court on Friday. His co-conspirator, John Hayden, 36, was ejected from the vehicle and succumbed to his injuries at the site of the incident. Detective Constable Pete Wise characterized Loveridge, who pleaded guilty to the charges, as a “dangerous individual”. Law enforcement officials reported that Loveridge drove a silver Ford Focus to a One Stop store located on Park Road in Manea, Cambridgeshire, on 22 October 2023. According to officers, Mr. Hayden entered the premises carrying a metal bar. The shopkeeper, along with his mother, secured themselves behind the cash registers, police stated, thereby preventing the attempted robber from accessing the funds. Hayden departed without any stolen items, and while the victims were unharmed, they were left distressed. Loveridge subsequently drove away with Hayden, but the Focus veered off the road and crashed into a ditch in Byall Fen Drove, in the vicinity of Chatteris. Loveridge received medical attention at a hospital for minor injuries. Authorities indicated that Loveridge was discovered to be above the legal alcohol limit for driving, and the Focus was equipped with cloned number plates. He pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and to causing death by driving without due care and attention while impaired by alcohol. Loveridge received a driving disqualification lasting 15 years and 10 months. Police also stated that he confessed to a robbery committed at a store in Wickhambrook, Suffolk, in February 2023. Det Con Wise commented, “Loveridge is a dangerous individual who had already carried out a violent robbery before attempting to rob the shop in Manea.” He added, “Not only this, he drove after drinking and killed his accomplice, so I’m glad he’s been jailed for a long time.”