A pair of carjackers who stuck at knifepoint have been jailed. Michael Caddick, 44, and Ben Leadbeater, 31, were tracked down by police who flooded the area in Stoke-on-Trent.
The duo worked together to take a red Toyota after they threatened the owner at knifepoint on Broadway, Meir. A friend of the victim spotted the car on Harrowby Road. He followed it for about a minute while police rushed to the area with officers looking for the stolen vehicle, Staffordshire Police said.
The man followed the car until Caddick and Leadbeater got out. One of them had a large knife on him and threatened the man, who ran away, police said. Caddick drove off in the man’s Toyota Yaris, while Leadbeater got back in the red Toyota and carried on driving away.
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The car Leadbeater was driving was stung by officers while he was trying to get away and was arrested on railway lines at Blythe Bridge. He became obstructive and put himself and officers in harm’s way before being taken away to custody. Caddick was also stopped on Green Lane and was arrested by officers on June 22, 2022.
Both men later pleaded guilty in court to two counts each of aggravated vehicle taking.
Caddick and Leadbeater, both of no fixed address, were both sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Tuesday, January 14. Caddick was sentenced to 17 months imprisonment, while Leadbeater was given 16 months.