Gang member falls from getaway van during police chase caught on camera near Stafford as jewellery robbers jailed for 30 years - WATCH
Dramatic footage captures the moment a gang member falls from a speeding getaway van pursued by police on a chase which ended near Stafford.
Four men have been jailed for a total of 30 years after ten patrol cars, two police helicopters, and armed officers were led on the chase down the M6 through Staffordshire.
Police have released dashcam footage from the patrol cars showing one of the offenders falling from the moving getaway van going the wrong way around a roundabout during the chase.
Footage also shows the van swerving across motorway lanes at police cars during the high-speed pursuit.
Police say staff at the jewellers described how windows at the shop were attacked with a drain grid cover and a Samurai sword.
The offenders continued on the M6 through Staffordshire, pursued by two helicopters, two police forces, ten cars and armed officers.
It ended near Catch Corner roundabout at junction 13 when the van was stopped.
Eyewitness at the time described the commotion after being caught up in the pursuit along the A449 saying how police had come 'out of nowhere'.
Staffordshire Police and Cheshire Police, North West Motorway Group, Central Motorway Police Group and West Midlands Motorway Group were all involved in the hunt.
Just hours before, the offenders wearing balaclavas forced a hole in the window of Moody's jewellers in Nantwich and stole watches before making off in a car.
At the time, Moodys said on their Facebook page: "Whilst we were safely protected inside the shop by our wonderful security measures, a violent gang of four attacked the windows with various means ranging from a drain grid cover to a Samurai sword."
That car was later found having been set alight and the chase moved onto tracking the van.
But officers eventually stopped Lewis Chalmers, 27, of Oswald Road in Chorlton Cum Hardy; Patrick David Massey, 26, of Pegwell Drive, Salford; Darren James McAndrew, 32, of Edlington Walk, Newton Heath and Joseph Anthony Schofield, 20, of Dob Brook Close in Manchester.
They were all sentenced at Warrington Crown Court on Monday, having pleaded guilty to robbery.
Chalmers, Massey and McAndrew pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking. Schofield pleaded guilty to dangerous driving.
Schofield, Chalmers and Massey also pleaded guilty to two count of affray.
Chalmers was jailed for nine years, Massey for nine years, McAndrew eight years and Schofield 48 months.
Pc Nicholas James of, Central Motorway Police Group, said: "We pride ourselves in working quickly and efficiently together with other neighbouring forces in order to bring those responsible for criminal activities to justice.
"It was a complicated and fast moving situation that had a positive safe outcome. The professionalism of all officers in this incident was commendable."
Dc Craig Stevens, of Cheshire Police, said: "This is a great result and highlights that we are effectively borderless.
"No matter where you run, we will work together to capture you and bring you before the courts. I'd like to thank everyone for helping to put these dangerous men behind bars."
