Dumper Truck Police Chase

 30-tonne Dumper Truck Police Chase

A labourer went on a two hour rampage in his 30 tonne dumper truck after arguing with his bosses about air conditioning in his cab, a court heard.

Nicholas Churchill, 40, became enraged after being forced to work when he claimed he was too hot in his truck on a summer’s day at a quarry in Spixworth, Norfolk.

He drove off and left a trail of destruction as he was pursued by six police cars and a helicopter for 37 miles across two counties on July 20 last year.

Churchill wrecked three police cars by ramming into them and smashed down signs and bollards as he reached top speeds of 25mph during the chase.

Shoppers scattered as his truck careered down a high street and over a pedestrianised square before coming to a halt near his home in Brandon, Suffolk.

Norwich magistrates heard how Churchill who had also taken drugs had caused damage costing £26,572 to police property and £1,500 to his truck.

Prosecutor Fergus Harold said: ‘The vehicle he was driving attracted a significant police pursuit and caused a large amount of damage to the vehicles involved.

‘It started off as a case that had little justification. The defendant was at work driving his vehicle and had taken issue with his employers about the air conditioning in his cab.

‘He was told to get on with his job, but instead he has taken his vehicle on to the highway, and there
Churchill admitted dangerous driving and driving under the influence of drugs.

He was commended by the prosecution for pleading guilty at the earliest opportunity

Police were first alerted by worried motorists who dialled 999 to report that a truck was weaving dangerously across the road.

Officer caught up with the truck at the Thickthorn roundabout south of Norwich at around 12.30pm after it had been driven for five miles.

A convoy of six police cars and a police helicopter pursued the truck down the A11 dual carriageway and saw knocking over road signs and going straight across a roundabout near Attleborough.

It then careered on towards Snetterton where it rammed a police car on another roundabout.

It continued for six miles before veering down a track leading to the Forestry Commission’s East Anglia headquarters at Santon Downham.

Two more police cars were wrecked on the track including one which was shunted along with a shaken officer still sitting inside and lucky to escape unhurt.

The truck then re-joined the A134 and went to Mundford where it passed astonished diners at a roadside restaurant and turned left on the A1065 at a roundabout.

It then headed into Brandon, going over a level crossing and down the High Street before smashing down two bollards and crossing the Market Square.

Drinkers outside the Flintknappers pub watched in amazement as the truck went back on the Thetford Road before coming to a halt at 2.30pm.

The court heard that Churchill had not been in trouble with police since being caught drink-driving eight years ago.

A shopper in Brandon who asked not to be named said at the time of the chase: ‘It is a miracle that nobody was killed.

‘This truck just came across the middle of the market square. If it had been just a few minutes later, it would have been packed with children leaving school.’

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