East Grinstead pursuit - man in court on Monday

22 August 2010

A 22-year-old man from Croydon is appearing before court tomorrow after police pursued a stolen car in East Grinstead.

William Martin Burgess, 22, of Wentworth Way, Croydon, has been charged with Taking a Motor Vehicle Without Consent, Driving Whilst Disqualified and No Insurance. He was remanded in police custody and will appear before Crawley Magistrates Court on Monday, 23 August.

At 2.20am on Saturday, 21 August, police were alerted to a blue Ford Sierra in East Grinstead which was reported as stolen from Croydon. Officers from Sussex Police's Roads Policing Unit attempted to stop the vehicle in Beeching Way, where the police car was rammed, and after a short pursuit the vehicle was finally stopped in Beeching Way and the two occupants, a 22 year old man and an 18 year old man, both from the Croydon area, were arrested. They were both taken to the East Surrey Hospital, Redhill, however they were discharged a short time later with minor injuries.

Two police vehicles involved in the pursuit received slight damage as a result of the incident and one police officer received a minor injury.

Six other people were arrested in connection with the theft however they were interviewed and released with no further action, as was the 18-year-old passenger of the vehicle.

A 23 year old man and a 19 year old man, both from the East Grinstead area and not connected to the theft of the vehicle,  were arrested at the scene and were later charged with Obstructing Police Officers. They were remanded on bail to appear at Crawley Magistrates Court on 3 September.

The road was closed for five hours while police conducted an investigation and was reopened about 8am.