Men jailed after head-on 90mph crash with unmarked police car in Liverpool
Norman O'Connor, Colin Miller, and a 14-year-old boy who cannot be named, made off at speed in the Jaguar convertible after raiding its elderly owner's home, threatening him with a hammer.
Minutes later, as it was being pursued by marked police patrols, the group ploughed the car, head-on, into an unmarked police car on patrol on Heyworth Street in Everton.
The vehicle, driven by O'Connor, 37, was said to have been travelling at up to 90mph prior to the crash.
O'Connor, of Anfield, Liverpool, fled the car before being detained nearby on the pavement, while the teenager was discovered with an injury to his leg in the front passenger seat.
Miller, 54, of Sefton Park, Liverpool, was "propelled from the back seat" into the centre console.
Liverpool Crown Court heard the pensioner was watching television alone at his home in Anfield at around 10.15pm on 20 December 2024 when he "heard a loud bang" as his window was smashed.
The three defendants then proceeded to enter through the broken window, with one of the men brandishing a hammer towards the pensioner while demanding money.
Helen Chenery, prosecuting, told the court the pensioner ultimately handed over £240 from his pocket as a result of the threats, while another of the offenders took the keys to his £25,000 Jaguar car from his briefcase.
All three then climbed back out of the home via the broken window and sped away inside the vehicle.
In a statement read to the court on his behalf, the victim said: "Prior to the incident, I was an independent 76-year-old man who lived on his own. My home is meant to be a safe space.
"I knew, because of my age, that I was unable to fight. These males entered my home, where I'm meant to feel safe, and made me feel vulnerable and scared.
"I have worked hard all my life. This has affected my family greatly, to the point where they want me to relocate to Southampton to ensure that I'm safe and that nothing like this will happen again.
"I have a large classic toy car collection. A lot of these were bought as presents by my wife, who passed away a few years ago.
"A lot of these were damaged by the offenders breaking in through the window. This has caused a lot of heartache for me."
One of the Merseyside Police PCs involved in the crash reported suffering "bruising and pain" as a result, while the other will be left with permanent scarring as a result of a cut to his hip.
O'Connor, who admitted robbery, theft, dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, theft and going equipped for theft, was jailed for nine years.
While Miller pleaded guilty to robbery and theft, and was jailed for eight years and one month.
Sentencing, Recorder Richard Pratt KC said: "It is not possible to say which of you held the hammer, neither does that matter. Whichever one of you did not have the hammer plainly knew that the other one did.
"It was you, O'Connor, who was driving the vehicle. The vehicle was driven in a highly dangerous way at speed with its lights switched off. A collision was almost inevitable, and it happened. Those police officers suffered injury, both physical and psychological, while they were doing nothing more than their duty.
He continued: "It is clear that his independence and pride was shattered by your actions on this night. The only real mitigation that can be advanced on either of your behalves is the fact that you pleaded guilty."
O'Connor's criminal record shows 17 previous convictions for 32 offences, including burglary, aggravated vehicle taking and dangerous driving.
Peter White, defending, said on his behalf: "There is no justification for Mr O'Connor's conduct. He tells me that this period of his life was entirely dominated by drink and drugs.
"He had a chaotic lifestyle and was acting wholly inappropriately and not thinking straight. He tells me that he had a long term relationship which came to an end in 2018. He lost contact with his young son. Since then, his offending has massively escalated. He has been in that vicious cycle, in and out of prison and doing anything to fund his addiction.
"He has heard the consequences of his actions. He is more than aware that someone could have easily died in that horrendous piece of dangerous driving, and it is only through good fortune that he is not facing a more serious offence."
Miller has 40 prior convictions for 112 offences dating back to 1987, including 54 for theft related matters.
His counsel, Brendan Carville, told the court: "He is not in good health. While in prison, he has been tested for bowel cancer. He is awaiting the results of that.
"He bitterly regrets his involvement in this. He has little memory of what happened and is lucky to be alive, given the crash that occurred head-on. He feels very stupid to be involved in this and apologises to both the complainant and the court. His plan, when released, is to go and live in Plymouth with his brother."
The youth, now aged 15, was previously handed four years and seven months in youth detention. He admitted robbery, theft of a motor vehicle, possession of a bladed article in a public place, two counts of racially aggravated assault, assault, criminal damage and possession of cannabis and was found guilty of wounding with intent, having repeatedly stabbed a man in the street.
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