Leeds crook jailed for robbing car salesman of Audi A1 worth £8,000 from outside West Yorkshire Ford dealership

Duane Cale was caught after being dragged from the vehicle when another member of staff witnessed the incident and drove after him.

Leeds Crown Court heard the robbery took place on November 3 this year at Trust Ford, on Park Road, Castleford.

Cale attracted the attention of an off-duty police officer who spotted the defendant acting suspiciously as he was taking his car into the garage

The officer warned staff after seeing Cale "milling around" outside.

A salesman approached Cale after the officer had left and the defendant asked about car finance for an Audi A1 worth £8,000.

Cale told the staff member that he was interested in buying the car for his girlfriend and asked to have a look at the vehicle.

Robert Galley, prosecuting, said the car engine was switched on and Cale was allowed to look under the bonnet.

Once the bonnet was lowered the 37-year-old pushed the salesman out of the way and drove off in the Audi.

Mr Galley said the man was shocked but did not suffer any physical injury.

The robbery was observed by a colleague who then followed the Audi in a Ford Focus.

He managed to box Cale in at a roundabout nearby and the two vehicles came into contact with each other.

Cale made threats to bite and stab the man during the struggle.

Police were contacted and Cale was apprehended with the help of officers and members of the public.

Cale, of Chirchfield Grove, Rothwell, Leeds, was banned from driving at the time of the incident

He pleaded guilty to robbery and driving while disqualified.

The offences include aggravated vehicle taking and motoring offences.

Stephen Welford, mitigating, said Cale regretted his actions and accepted that he had behaved foolishly.

Mr Welford said the defendant has a partner and a young family to support and plans to stop offending.

Cale was jailed for 11 months.

Judge Neil Clarke said: "I get the impression this started out as an attempted theft.

"You have left that salesman with ongoing psychiatric symptoms.

"You have a criminal record as long as I have seen for someone of your age."