Car thief caught on video by ‘Storage Hunters’ star in court

Prolific crook Mark Devlin (39) had been in a Vauxhall Zafira going at twice the speed limit in a residential area of Burnley. He then rammed a police dog vehicle and a patrol car after he lost control, crashed at a busy junction on Accrington Road and still tried to escape. Police had started to follow the vehicle on the M65 and Devlin had mounted the pavement to avoid a stinger put down at junction 10, Burnley magistrates had earlier heard.

The tail end of the incident was recorded by Storage Hunters presenter Jesse McClure and the footage went viral on the internet. His passenger, Stephen Starkie, of Coal Clough Lane, had earlier admitted allowing himself to be carried in a vehicle taken without consent. He was given a curfew, £85 costs, £60 victim surcharge and £150 criminal court charge.

Devlin, of Albert Street, Burnley, who has 115 previous offences, admitted aggravated vehicle taking in April and was committed for sentence, but this week the hearing was adjourned until July 8th. He was warned that prison was an option.