WOULD-be thieves were seen tossing incriminating evidence from their speeding car late at night as police pursued them.

Three of the four men who were in the fleeing Vauxhall Insignia as it sped towards Penrith just after midnight in December, 2020, have now pleaded guilty to an offence of going equipped for theft.

A fourth man who is accused of the same offence has yet to enter his plea.

The three men who admitted the offence at Carlisle’s Rickergate court were were Grant Bower, 30, of Radulf Gardens, Liversedge, Kirklees; Thomas Law, 29, of Peel Street, Heckmondwike, Kirklees; and Carlton Watson, 26, of Millers Croft, Batley, Kirklees.

Prosecutor Pam Ward said police were sent out on patrol after reports that curtain-sided lorries in the Penrith area were being targeted by thieves.

The curtain sides of the lorries were being slashed open so that the cargo in the lorries could be stolen, said the prosecutor.

Police became aware of the defendants after their Vauxhall Insignia was seen stopped beside a lorry that was parked in a layby beside the A6 near Penrith just after midnight. Officers in a patrol car drove up to the car to investigate.

But as the police car pulled up near to the Vauxhall, its driver sped off on to the A6 towards Penrith and continued to flee despite the police officers following them with their blue lights and siren activated.

“Items were seen being thrown from both sides of the vehicle,” said Mrs Ward. “The vehicle disappeared into Penrith town centre.” More police teams joined the pursuit, and the Insignia was brought to a halt.

Police later searched the route taken by the defendants’ car, including Inglewood Road in Penrith, where officers recovered an angle grinder which was among the items thrown from the car.

Also recovered were gloves and a mobile phone, and equipment which prevented the car’s number plate being recognised by a police speed camera.

The court heard that Bower and Law were both dealt with at Carlisle Crown Court for a similar offence in February this year. After hearing the details, magistrates sent the case to Carlisle Crown Court for a hearing on November 1. All three defendants were granted unconditional bail.

A fourth man, Damian Maundrill, 23, of Lowood Lane, Birstall, Batley, Kirklees, has yet to enter a plea to the going equipped charge. Magistrates ruled that he should enter his plea before magistrates on October 18.