Car Thief Gives Up After 100mph Chase As He Was Scared Of Being Bitten By Police Dog
Police said the sudden change of heart came when Howard realised he was being 'pursued by a dog handler'
Dramatic footage shows the moment a suspected car thief ended up giving himself up to police following a 100mph chase - admitting it was because he was scared of being bitten by the officers' specially trained dog. Watch the clip here:
Richard Howard, 28, was seen behind the wheel of a silver Peugeot in the early hours of 5 February.
When a police patrol noticed the vehicle being driven erratically through the streets of Coventry, West Midlands, they suspected the car was linked to a spate of thefts and set off in pursuit.
Police bodycam footage shows Howard speeding through narrow residential streets before eventually pulling over and leaping out of the car with his hands up.
Police said the sudden change of heart came when Howard realised he was being 'pursued by a dog handler', begging officers to keep the police dog, named Gunner, on a lead.
After the car stopped, cops shouted to Howard: "Get out of the car now. There's a dog in this car. Get out now."
They then told him to get on the floor, before arresting him for dangerous driving, with a police officer saying in the footage: "Effectively he's given himself up as he didn't want to get bitten."
Howard later admitted to police exactly what they had suspected, telling them: "I didn't want to risk being bitten by your dog."
Police had suspected Howard and another man - who'd been dropped off earlier in the night - were scoping out high value cars to steal.
After admitting dangerous driving and driving while disqualified at Warwick Crown Court, Howard was jailed for 18 months.
Sergeant John Simpson of West Midlands Police, who had chased the suspect, said: "Our amazing police dogs' reputation obviously precedes them: they don't even need to get out of the car for them to have a big impact.
"In fairness to Howard, it was a very sensible decision to pull over.
"He'd been flying over speed humps at close to 100 miles per hour and, although it was the middle of the night and the roads were largely empty, it was very dangerous and could have ended with him or someone else being seriously hurt.
"And if he had tried to outrun Gunner there would only ever have been one winner."
Featured Image Credit: SWNSJess Hardiman