A man who drove a stolen vehicle the wrong way down the M4 has been sentenced to prison.
Scott Lippiatt, 23, of Stanier Road, Siston, has been jailed following a crime spree that saw him commit multiple offences, culminating in a reckless motorway chase.
Lippiatt pleaded guilty to a number of charges at Swindon Crown Court on Friday, 9th August. These included dangerous driving, failing to stop, several counts of theft from a vehicle, driving without the owner’s consent, going equipped for theft, driving without a licence, and driving without insurance.
The incident began on the evening of 15th January, when officers from the Serious Youth Gang Violence and Burglary Team identified a suspicious vehicle operating in Swindon. The vehicle, which was later confirmed to be a stolen Citroen Berlingo on false plates, had been involved in a series of thefts in the area. Among the stolen items were tools taken from a vehicle on Beatrice Street, and motocross bikes, equipment, and clothing reported missing from Austin Road.
As the Citroen was spotted heading towards Junction 16 of the M4 on the A3102 Blagrove, officers attempted to intercept it. However, Lippiatt, determined to escape, forced his way through traffic, mounting a grass verge and driving the wrong way down the motorway. The situation became extremely dangerous as three firearms units from Wiltshire Police engaged in pursuit.
The chase ended when the stolen vehicle crashed into the central reservation, bringing Lippiatt’s reckless flight to an end. He, along with two other occupants of the vehicle, John Matthews, 39, and Chaz Bevan, 26, were arrested and taken to hospital as a precaution before being taken into custody.
PC Warren Johnston, who was involved in the operation, commented on the case: “Lippiatt showed utter disregard for the safety of other road users, driving in such a dangerous and reckless manner. His actions could have easily resulted in multiple serious collisions. Thanks to the swift and coordinated efforts of our team, we were able to bring this dangerous situation to a safe conclusion and recover stolen goods that have since been returned to their rightful owners.”
John Matthews and Chaz Bevan, both from Bristol, received community orders for their involvement in the crimes.
