A car thief convicted of crashing a stolen BMW into an East Devon home, then fled from police, has been found guilty after failing to turn up to court.
A 27-year-old man has been found guilty of stealing a BMW and crashing it into the walls of a Colyford home, writes Isabelle Pinnock, OPCC court reporting scheme.
Callum McDonough, 27, of Halewood, Liverpool, failed to appear at Exeter Magistrates’ Court for his trial on February 6.
He was convicted in his absence of aggravated vehicle taking, property damage under £5,000, and driving without insurance.
District Judge Smith ruled that the prosecution case was sufficient to convict and found the defendant guilty in his absence, issuing a warrant for his arrest.
The court heard that on November 6, 2024, McDonough took a vehicle during a burglary and later crashed it into a house at Swan Hill Road, Colyford, causing damage to the external wall, front door, metal gate and internal walls.
At around 9pm, Mr Price, the homeowner called 999 to report that a car had crashed into his property. He told police he had been sitting in his lounge when he heard “an almighty bang” and went to investigate, struggling to open his front door because of the damage caused by the impact.
Mr Price said he saw a single male exit the vehicle. The white BMW had sustained extensive damage, with the driver’s side completely smashed in, the windscreen broken and blood visible on the steering wheel.
“I asked, are you alright? He said yes,” the homeowner said. “He hobbled quickly straight down the hill and I thought, what are you doing?”
A forensic examination of the vehicle found the defendant’s DNA from saliva on the driver’s airbag.
In a police interview, the defendant admitted being in the car but denied driving it and claimed he did not know it had been stolen.
The original owner of the vehicle told police that on October 8, 2024, he had been woken during the night by his dog barking. He heard a car door shut and then a vehicle driving away. When he went outside, his car was gone.
David Lee, a stolen vehicle investigation officer, noted that fake registration plates had been fitted to the car, with additional fake plates found strewn inside the vehicle.
Attending officer, PC Osborne, said a search of the surrounding area was carried out, including Gulley Shoot in Colyford, before officers went to the car park at Seaton LED Leisure Centre.
Police received a call saying the suspect was inside the leisure centre, but were told shortly afterwards that he had gone out of a rear fire door.
A police dog unit arrived at around 10pm. Officers followed the defendant as he ran around nearby buildings, jumped several fences and was eventually found lying in bushes. He was arrested and taken to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital for treatment to his injuries.
