Express & Star

Father jailed for crashing stolen car through wall at ex-wife's house

An angry father who drove a car he had stolen through the front garden wall of his ex-wife's house has been jailed for 22 months.

Published

Richard Salt was drunk and furious when he went to visit his former wife in Dangerfield Lane, Darlaston, demanding to see his son, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

He was driving a Seat Leon that he had stolen from his then partner's house in nearby Rough Hay.

When he arrived at his ex-wife's address the 34-year-old sat inside the car and shouted abuse at the woman, before reversing down the road and crashing into her Vauxhall Corsa that was parked on the street.

Mr Geoffrey Dann prosecuting, said: "He continued to accelerate and pushed the Corsa 30 yards down the road, causing it to spin around."

The court heard that children were playing in the street nearby when Salt reversed the car and drove it at speed towards the house.

"The car smashed through the front garden wall," Mr Dann continued. "It got stuck, but the defendant was frantically revving the engine and rocking back and forth in his seat trying to get the car free."

Salt got out of the car and began to bang on the front door shouting 'you're dead', the prosecutor said.

He was arrested at the scene but became abusive towards officers and refused to provide a breath sample, added Mr Dann.

The court heard that Salt breached restraining order imposed after he punched his ex-wife in the face during a row in January, an incident which resulted in him being convicted of battery.

In August 2012 he received a community order after he was convicted of being drunk in charge of a child, criminal damage and producing cannabis.

Mr Oliver Woolhouse, defending, said Salt and his ex-wife had led a volatile relationship, which had frequently seen him turn to alcohol.

"A significant part of his disgraceful behaviour has been the lack of access to his son," he said.

"When he is not in a dark place he can be a fair and decent partner and a fair and decent father. On this occasion he was finding it difficult to cope emotionally and turned to drink, which triggered his offending."

Salt, of The Avenue, Darlaston, admitted affray, breaching a restraining order, aggravated vehicle taking, driving without insurance or licence and failing to provide a specimen.

Jailing him for 22 months, Recorder Mr Graham Kelly told Salt he had behaved 'absolutely abominably'. "You are not a danger to all women but you are certainly a danger to Miss Salt," he added.

Salt was disqualified from driving for 18 months.

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.