Bus thief went on 30-mile rampage
10 hours 39 mins ago (December 19, 2009) - AP
Shane Oldroyd, 27, of Ossett, West Yorkshire, stole the single-decker Arriva bus from Wakefield bus station in August and took it on a rampage through the city's streets, ploughing into other vehicles and street signs on the way.
At Leeds Crown Court, Judge Kerry Macgill jailed Oldroyd indefinitely to serve at least three-and-a-half years.
CCTV footage, shot from a West Yorkshire police helicopter which tracked the bus through Wakefield city centre and surrounding towns, captured Oldroyd driving on the wrong side of the road, sideswiping other cars and destroying traffic lights as the bus smashed into them.
Oldroyd's friend Sarah Smith, 20, was travelling with him on the bus.
Detective Inspector Paul O'Dowd, of Wakefield District CID, said: "Clearly this was a very dangerous act. They caused damage to a large number of vehicles and it is extremely lucky that no-one was seriously injured.
"Police acted to stop the bus as soon as it was safe to do so with minimal risk to members of the public. It was brought to a satisfactory conclusion by the two being apprehended and put before the courts."
At an earlier hearing Oldroyd pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking and damaging a Mercedes car, and being reckless as to whether life was endangered. He also admitted driving without insurance, driving over the alcohol limit and failing to stop after an accident.
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