Serial Chirnside Park car thief Will Ancrum drives off with police officer’s arm inside car, Ringwood court hears
A serial Chirnside Park car thief has sped away from police — while an officers arm was reaching inside the car — after they woke him up from a nap behind the wheel.
East
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A serial eastern suburbs car thief has embarked on multiple dangerous car chases — at speeds of 170km/h — just six days after he was released from jail.
Will Ancrum, 23, pleaded guilty to a slew of charges including endangering the safety of a police officer, careless driving, theft of a motor vehicle in the Ringwood Magistrates Court.
Ancrum, who appeared via video link from custody, stole multiple cars from homes in the eastern suburbs in February and March.
His offending began six days after his last jail release.
When police spotted him driving the stolen cars, he would speed away, sparking dangerous police chases.
On February 8, Ancrum was driving a stolen car in convoy with two other stolen cars.
When police tailed the trio, one driver rammed the police car and the rest spite away speeding off.
The Airwing followed the car Ancrum was driving, recording him driving erratically at speeds up to 170km/h on the Mordialloc Fwy.
Ancrum was arrested after he attempted to run away from the stolen car.
In March, Ancrum was behind the wheel of a stolen car which was stopped in the middle of a road in Ringwood.
When police approached the car they spotted Ancrum — who was under the influence of drugs — asleep behind the wheel.
They woke him up and attempted to get him out of the car.
A police officer reached through the driver’s side window to turn off the ignition, but Ancrum accelerated the car while the officers arm was still inside.
The court heard Ancrum’s drug addiction struggles were at the root of his offending.
Ancrum, who aspires to work in the fitness industry, was convicted and sentenced to a 12 month jail term, with a six month non-parole period.
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