My scary drive home from Blackpool - so when should we help the police ?
 

Thought I would share my shocking experience with you when returning back from blackpool on sunday morning with the family.

It was my daughters 2nd birthday on Friday so took the family upto blackpool to see the illuminations (nice 6 hour congestion and 3 hour queue to see the lights..! :o)

Left Blackpool about 10PM on Saturday and it was on the M5 just before my turnoff to Swindon where things got 'interesting'

It was about 1.30am and approaching the junction, there was a mazda doing about 50 in the slow lane - with NO lights on at all - very scary as the motorway wasnt lit and you just couldnt see it until you were very close !!!

Flashed a couple of times as I approached and overtook to pull off at my junction about half a mile down...it was then I realised that the car was turning off too (no indicators). and following.

I slowed right down to about 10mph see what the crack was, and the car slowed with me..by then im a little worried as my young children and wife are in the car with me.

Then..the car spins up past me and starts swerving all over the place at high speed !! As I really thought the t**t was going to kill someone (probably drugged or pi%%ed up and STILL no lights), chased it and got close enough to take the plate and called the feds who asked if I was happy following at a distance until we got to the next roundabout so I could tell them which direction they were going in.

Then backed off and the car slowed down and blocked me from getting past on a hill - bugger.

The passenger then got out and started hurling abuse and I had nowhere to go !

The police controller was still on the phone at this stage, but I just reacted as I thought fit and started to open my car door to the guy to see how he reacted (thought if I stayed in the car then he would just come anyway, and luckily he seemed to bottle it and got back in his car (im sh.itting it by now BTW !!).

"Glad thats over" - I remember thinking - and as the police were still on the phone told them I would let them take over..

Then..as I look up..this mazda is REVERSING at a rate of knots towards my car to try and smash the front in of my pride and joy !!!! My wifes awake by now and a little hysterical as you can imagine.

Luckily I reacted quickly, reversed at high speed, span the nose round and floored it to get away (proper sweeney move :lol:)..they then started to chase me but as my car is pretty quick and they were just in an old mazda..felt OK about getting away.

The old bill then arrived in seconds and took over/chased the car into the night (still no lights).

Had a call about 2am to say they'd dumped the car and done a runner and they asked if Id be happy giving a statement in the week (there popping round tommorrow night) - they apparently knew who they were and this would help nail them.

Now..to be honest im a bit shook up by it all and wondered - what would you have done in the same situation with your family in the car ?

What scares me most in hindsight is that they could have been robbers/druggies or anything and pulled a gun or whatever, but what equally scares me is that if they continued driving like that with no lights on, on an A road, then there could have been a mirror image family coming the other way who may have been seriously injured or killed.

Difficult call really. In hindsight, I would of just bit my lip and carried on, phoned the police and let them do the chasing.

And I cant believe that I went to get out the car - feel a bit stupid there TBH, but its a bit like pub pyshcology I guess..if youve got some bother and back off..then your deffo going to get a slap anyway whereas if you confront the issue, there more likely to back down.

Sorry if i'm babbling on but just wanted to share my experience really....not a very pleasant one (my heart was beating like mad on the final 30 miles home!!)

When I pulled my 2 young kids out of the car when I got home to put them to bed (they'd slept through everything!) the whole thing hit me and it was quite upsetting to be honest as i've no doubt every parent on here could relate to.

I dunno..whats this bloody country coming too eh ??

Cheers
Nat

Crikey Nat, all sounds a bit scarey.
Not sure what best to do in those situations, if they're already known to the Police it's unlikely they were just having a problem with the car, but your not to know that.

Nat,

Been thinking about this sort of thing more and more. Never mind the situation, but a simple gesture - in your case a totally reasonable "flash of the lights," can bring a huge and disproportianate response.

I'm sure we've all had 'em but I am trying to ignore all the situations, and as you say, "bite the lip, and ignore."

Recently, I pulled into a gap, left by the guy in lane 3 as he was stationary and seemed to be fiddling with the radio, changing lanes in the M3 road works. His response, as he saw me indicate right and start to change lanes, was hard acceleration to try to close the 100 yard gap, loads of flashing head lights and gesticulation. There where 3 heavies in the car with him. Doing 5-10mph, I was a sitting target if they'd decided to get and and start.

You just don't know who's in the car next/behind you these days and I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that that's the way I prefer it..............


Rgds, Rob

Shiiiiieeet Natt...glad it all turned out OK

Have to agree with Rob...as a 6ft, 15st rugby playing, broken nosed, physically very active 30 year old (sounds like a singles advert!!), I like to think if need be I could handle things myself, even if it meant running very fast in the opposite direction. However the shitty world we live in today means that the guy in the car next to you (or on the other side of the street shouting abuse, or next to you in the post office etc.) could be off his head on drugs/medication/alcohol...and I for one am quite happy not to know what his problem may be.

It sounds like in your case, that the guy(s) in question were looking for agro no matter what...The fact that you slowed after flashing them was probably the reason they needed to take things further.

Give 'em a flash yes...but then if the car followed me down the slip road and started acting in a funny manner towards me, I would have been off like a scalded cat!

Unfortunately intimidation is becoming a bigger and bigger part of todays society, whether its a 12 year old giving people a hard time in the town centre or 50 year old family man with total road rage...and its 'normal' peeps like the majority whom have to accept this beahviour as the norm...or take your own health in your hands in doing something about it.

dear me...I'm getting a headache up here on this soapbox:o

Don't worry - the network of GATSOs and Camera Safety vans (manned by civillians and only operational 9-5) will make sure they are taken off the streets in no time at all!

Man, scary stuff Nat. I'm more likely to call the feds, and leave it well alone. You just don't how people are going to react. Sometimes, it could have been a genuine mistake Most people, one time or another have pulled away and forgotten to turn the lights on. Then again, I've read on here, and somewhere else about people who go about with no lights on, and when someone flashes them they chase after you, and the story goes on from there.

Luckily I reacted quickly, reversed at high speed, span the nose round and floored it to get away (proper sweeney move :lol:)..they then started to chase me but as my car is pretty quick and they were just in an old mazda..felt OK about getting away.


You mad hooligan !!! I'm sure you'll have gone through a speed camera during your high speed driving and will get nicked as a matter of course. Fancy upsetting those nice people who were just out having fun :D

Think these were well known to the old bill..upto no good or just off there heads. Im sure they knew they were travelling with no lights mark, as the motorway was empty and unlit..youd have a job to see where you were going..

Didnt try to wind them up either..when I slowed down coming off the motorway just wanted them to pass to be honest, but they obviously thought differently..!

Its certainly made me think how to react (or not as the case may be) next time...

nat

I blame Merc drivers myself....

You did the same as I would have mate Except...................
















OPEN the bloody door.




If more peeps did what you did mate we would live in a better world


:cool::cool::cool:

Very scarey.

I have trained Martial Arts for 14 years, we do a lot of knife defence and to be honest I would suggest not opening the door. Drive away, while you can.

Remember the Kenneth Noye incident in 1996, the young lad got out the van and battered Noye, so Noye went and got a flick knife and killed him. Plus it doesn't need to be a knife, it could be a screw driver.

If you aren't training for it, then you will have less of a chance in a confrontation, the adrenalin will take over. Always walk away from a confrontation.

I am so glad you and your family are ok.

Suprised the police turned out,usually busy at another incident,KFC,Macdonalds or the like.But well done.

Braver man than me mate. Run and live to fight another day is probably going to be my epitaph!

Nattyboy ! tough call mate,
last year coming back fom a wedding 2am with her indoors! we were over
taken by two Chavs in two seperate cars! they looked like they were racing and the second car just missed my O/s front.

so i said hold tight to mrs mav and gave chase in her Mugen honda prelude:lol:
it was not long B4 i had caught them and passed nobby f**k witt , and started to catch the first car up;)

it then became apparent that the car in front was trying to get away IE wrong side of islands through red lights etc etc

so anyway i chase him in to a cul-de-sac and jump out "mav"style:lol::lol: i then try to open drivers door which he has now locked:mad:

I then ask him, now come out you naughty boy and tell uncle mav what the problem is:lol:

at this point he refuses so i open the window with my fist!!!!!!!!

whoops wrong move:(

when the glass stops flying there in the still of night is a 45 type pistol pointing at my face:(:(:(

I back off shiting myself and get in my car!

i drive off real steady and he follows me and then turns and burns:o

I later find out off a mate of mine (OLD BILL) the driver of the car is a known Drugs dealer and i had interupeted a chase whereby the other car was chasing him off their Patch!

was i lucky????????????
u bet i was!!
would i ever chase a car again?
No way !!!!!!

sad as it seems keep away, you just dont know who you are dealing with!!!

ps hope your missus and kids ok .......mav:;)

Strongly disagree.

I've worked along side quite a few coppers in the past. All of them showed great commitment to their job and went out of their way to offer me help when required. ........ but then of course I was on their side :D

The main problem is that there are not enough of them.

Nat - you are obviously a good bloke and you did a good job. If more people did that sort of thing the world would be a safer place for our children. I know we do these things in the heat of the moment and thankfully most of the time it works out fine in the end.

Top man for getting involved.

when the glass stops flying there in the still of night is a 45 type pistol pointing at my face:(:(:(

You should have stuck your finger in the barrel and unscrewed his head with the other hand:lol:

[quote]Originally posted by philthy

Kind of agree philthy! but these guys dont give a **** who they hurt ! my motto if in doubt keepout:smug:

philthy, when my right hand had recoverd two weeks later

my finger was used for some thing else !!!!!
Ie is blood brown???????:puzzled:

Bloody hell Mav.!.:o:lol:

Cheers for the comments lads..to be honest I dont feel much of a hero..I actually feel a bit stupid for putting my family at risk..but as I say it was just a gut reaction..at the end of the day if I had just sat there in my car he would have probably done something daft anyway..

Hopefully ill give me statement when the feds come round tommorrow night (WPC sounded fit on the phone so I'll make sure the wife is out..:lol:) and that will be the end of it.

Nat

Bloomen hell nat just saw this, I think you did right in the circumstances, good bit of driving to by the sounds of it.

Can't believe these tossers can get away with this stuff all the time really gets my back up:mad::mad:

Hmm, i have been chased by folks for really senseless reasons. Gently tooting the horn, flashing lights just to let them know I am behind them (when they are dawdling or whatever), passing a very slow moving vehicle. A band of ultra-nationalists chased me in a sound truck with lights blazing, screaming speakers, red lights run, etc. just because I pulled up past him at a stop light, and I was on a 500 Gilera! Senseless stuff. But, outside of getting out of the car (make him get out and then make a run for it is my motto) I think you did the most sensible thing (though family worries would perhaps change my view here). At least you made an attempt to get this guy off the road. If we just ignore this stuff (though this doesn't mean an active full blown pursuit) being a little responsible and getting the info relayed to the feds or whatever is both yours and my interest. Ignoring this stuff just let7s it get out of hand. So many people ignored the Naziis (I know, a little to far-fertched analogy) and let those thugs take over.
Glad your family was safe and that you made the move to catch that idiot.
Be safe!

sorry about what happened but glad you are ok

i bet it has shaken your confidence too

a similar thing happened to me last year - 3 'youths' jumped out in front of my car and tried to get clipped - presumeably because i drive a lotus and they thought they would get compensation (ironic as i am a solicitor!) - i was very annoyed so jumped out of my car to 'reason' with them

as i did so a police car arrived - lady police office r on her own who insisted i got into her car to tell her what was happening

she didnt take notice of the 3 scrotes who nicked my briefcase off my passenger seat and legged it into an estate

police woman and i drive into estate to retrieve my bag and arrest youths

i spot one going into a shop so i apprehend him - he ends up in the police car being questioned

meanwhile more and more scrotes are arriving

they try force the police car open and 'rescue' the lad in the car

the mob (now about 30 strong) then surround the police car and me and start threatening with bats and sticks

at this point the policewoman says "i think we had better leave"! and legs it in her car leaving me with a baying mob about 30 strong

i get back into my car and lock the door and the mob is all over it and trying to turn it over

i set off at speed with a youth attached to my car as i have trapped his fingers in the passenger window as he tried to nick my stereo

this all happened in broad daylight at about 4pm on an estate in batley

i was ok as was the officer

never got my bag back
car was damaged

police didnt do squat presumeably because they would have come in for massive criticism

i will never get out of my car again to an incident and never chase people or succumb to road rage anymore

tbh it really knocked my confidence - i was quite happy to tackle 3 at the time but 3 turned into 30 and it was very very frightening - mobs are just horrendous

Crikey..that makes my incident sound like a tea party mate...!

Nat

Nada Natty - you had the wife and family in and I know that for me that would have papped me up more than anything

I have 5 year old and until you have one of your own its impossible to know how scary that must have been !

As I say glad you are ok though

You're very brave, that sounds really scarey, noone can really say what they'd do in that situation until it happens, what we say we're going to do or would like to do, you don't really know until it happens.

Well done Natty :) and to L-R too, how scary life becomes..

[Edited on 1-11-2005 by Melnie Mouse]

So many S hit people about nowadays you can't help becoming a noneof mybusiness type....especially with your kids with you....I had my car window put in a couple of weeks ago...saw the pricks that did it went out and caught one of them...gave him a slap and took him to the coppers...they charged him but only after interviewing me as he claimed I had assaulted him...the good guys and the coppers are onto a hiding to nothing....*******s are *******s that's it...Oh and i'm £120 out of pocket...feckin bonded windows...

Update - now im really rattled !!!

The old bill came round tonight to take a statement - really nice girl.

Turns out these chumps might be on an attempted murder charge as they rammed tha police car head on, then smashed into it on 3 seperate occasions during the chase..:o:o

They caught the passenger but cant charge him with anything and hes not grassing. No matter as the police are fairly confident who the driver is and forensics will easily be able to put him at the scene.

Theyve asked if i'd be happy giving evidence in court. Really dont know what to do...Gloucesters a bit too close to Swindon for my liking..what would you do..?

On a lighter note the WPC was loveley and asked my 4 year old son if he would like to come outside to sit in the car and put all the lights on - that kinda restored my faith in the polcie to be honest as my last few (traffic) brushes with them have been less than inspiring to say the least !!

Cheers and thanks for letting me share this with you !!

Nat

[Edited on 1-11-2005 by Nattyboy]

[Edited on 1-11-2005 by Nattyboy]

Nat

Have your day in court.............














..but take madmav with you:D

Update;

And I wouldnt mind some advice on this.

Had a call from the 'wintness care programme' :o These clowns are now pleading not guilty (depsite there being 2 policemen as wintnesses and my written statement.??!!), and the (civvy) woman told me that it would go to trial and they would send me a letter asking for any dates I couldnt attend.

I pointed out that I said in my statement I almost certainly wouldnt attend, and she repsonded saying that legally I would have to if required, and the court can use things like summons.

I then responded by saying that after her saying that, she had defintley made my mind up for me and I wouldnt be forced in to a corner..I also added that the police office put in my statement that I probably wouldnt attend which she accepted.

Surely they cant MAKE you go to court..??

Nat

Dunno - tough call I guess. They have you on record as a witness, so I guess they can summons you? You could withdraw your statement?

Yes they can. It's called a subpoena and to ignore or disobey such is contempt of court punishable with a custodial sentance in extreme cases.

If you subsequently attend court but refuse to say anything, that to COULD be seen as contempt of court.

I am no legal eagle, but I would suggest calling their bluff and saying the most they will get out of you is a written statment. I doubt they would go to the lengths required to issue a subpoena.

A bummer, that's for sure.

Having thought about this a bit more, I would LIKE to think I would be brave enough to go to court and see these scum behind bars.

My stepson was recently the victim of crime on two seperate occsasions, one an armed mugging, and the second when scum smashed the window of my car and nicked my GPS and he was sitting in the car at the time! He is now extremely freaked by all this and frequently has nightmares. If we are going to be intimidated by these b*******s, then all is lost.

It's a tough one Nat, and I'm not in your shoes. You need to speak to plod again and tell them how disturbed you all are by the possible consequences. Sounds to me that your evidence is only corroboration.

God luck mate, I hope you make the right decision. Only you can know what that might be.

Incredible isnt it ? You chase a car into the night to help the old bill, and you end up potentially risking your familys safety by being forced to go to court.

The WPC deffo put it in my statement that I wouldnt attend and my wife heard her say she accpeted that.

If they force me i'll make it clear i'll go, but my memory may not be up to it, and I'd be concerned that my appearance/evidence may be 'counter productive ' in them getting a conviction (ie; I would do more harm than good)..they cant penalise you for having a 5hite memory can they..(which I genuinley do anyway!)

Id be interested for other views on this..

Nat

If you feel that strongly, it might be better to simply go straight to the Chief Constable or even the Director of Public Prosecutions and tell them straight, As I said earlier, it sound like your evidence is secondary and not as important as perhaps police evidence.

However, if these scum get a slimeball lawyer on the case, he could well attempt to have your evidence struck from the record as he is unable to cross examine you.

Personally, I think slimeball lawyers who defend these scum should do the same sentence when they are convicted. Pleading Not Guily is simply a tactic

Its a tough one Nat...I know as I went through the same decsion process about a year ago.

I witnessed people acting suspiciously around our local village post-office whilst leaving work in my car. However, one of them ALSO CLOCKED ME leaving my small office and gave me serious attitude! I drove off thinking about what I had just seen, trying to figure out if it was just my imagination running away with me, when I decided to turn around and go back just to put my mind at rest...where I met what was clearly the get away car leaving the village at speed. I followed it for a while and could see it contained about 3 or 4 guys..and didn't want to get involved (obviously)...so followed for a short while, before they turned into a car park at a train station.

No sooner had I continued up the road to turn around, there were cops everywhere coming from the main town, obviously the Post office guy had called them.

After returning to work to see if anyone else had noticed all this going on (police helicopter over head etc)...I decided to pop down to the post-office to see if I was imagining it all, were the PO master informed me he had just been held up by 3 guys with 'shooters'!

Anyway...eventually the police came to get my details and for a statement...and as you say Nat, started asking if I would give evidence etc.

My concern was that the guy had seen me leaving my small office, where I used to go to work everyday! He would also see my face in Court! UHMMMM!

As it turned out, they had done several local village PO's and the police had shedloads of evidence against them. They where using the money for drugs etc. They pleaded guilty and therefore I didn't have to attend...but I had a few sleepless night thinking about it beforehand I can tell you.

When you gave your statement did they complete the back of the form in your presence? It should detail things about whether you feel intimidated and require special measures putting in place at court. The officer is required to sign this and you are also required to sign the back of the form to acknowledge reciept of a document explaining about being a witness.

Read this CPS link re special measures:

http://www.cps.gov.uk/publications/p...itnesseng.html

At the end of the day, it's your call whether you are a witness or not. Yes they can witness summons you to court and that does carry penalties if you don't respond. If you get to court and say nothing then you are in contempt.

This probably doesn't help you. However, someone has to take a stand. It can't always be someone else.

Let's hope they plead at court and you don't have to go through what is an arduous experience.

I'll have a chat with you over a fews beers on Friday about this mate.

I had this dilemma years ago over an assault case. Went through the whole ID parade, court case etc. etc.

The bonus was that I was able to give my address as an Army camp (in N.I. - the case was in Lincoln) gving me a fair degree of anonymity.

Not sure if you would have to divulge your personal address - especially if there could be repercussions.......any legal eagles on here able to advise??

Jacko.

Bloody hell Nat what a quandry to be in. As some others have said, I'd like to think that I'd be brave enough to stand up in court to put these *******s away. When it came to it probably wouldn't as i too have a young family and these people and their friends do tend to have long memories.

Best of luck with it in any case.

Some other amazing stories on this thread, makes my life seem so tame!!!

Nat, oohh dah man. Some nasty bast*rds about.
They need putting away before they kill someone.

You can ask to do the appearance by video link so you don't have to appear in person, and also request your address is confirmed but not read out in court.

Closest I've got to that was flashing a guy to pull in front to turn down the slip way of the M61 and then having him cut me up at the round about a bit further on; he jumped out having taken exception to me flashing him, I jumped out, he pushed me backwards against the bonnet of my car, so I kicked him in the bo**ocks and he backed off. Then out of nowhere the feds turned up. They had a word with us and we drove off.
All got settled but it is scary.

Ains.