Violent thieves jailed over battle with cops at Pudsey car dealership

An off-duty police officer who went to the aid of two colleagues as they tackled a suspected thief has been praised by a judge.
Robert Adams, left and brother Thomas AdamsRobert Adams, left and brother Thomas Adams
Robert Adams, left and brother Thomas Adams

Detective Constable Jessica Sellars stopped her vehicle when she saw PCSOs Adam Scott and Karl Indriks-Clay struggling with 23-year-old Thomas Adams as he tried to escape from a car dealership on Richardshaw Drive in Pudsey.

The eagle-eyed PCSOs, who were also commended by Judge Peter Benson for their bravery, had been on the top deck of a bus when they saw two suspects with hoods up looking into vehicles on the forecourt of the German Auto Care premises.

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The PCSOs got off the bus to challenge the pair last August, but Adams, of Carr Street, Bradford, tried to escape over a fence and struggled with the officers.

As Det Con Sellars joined in a Mitsubishi 4x4 vehicle was driven to within a metre of the melee and Adams shouted to the driver: “Run them over.”

Prosecutor Peter Hampton told Bradford Crown Court the driver, who was never identified, drove to within a foot of the officers.

“The car was moving backwards and forwards as he engine was revved and it is clear he was threatening the officers with immediate physical violence,” he said.

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Adams’ older brother Robert, 26, then got out armed with a hammer and began swinging it towards the officers.

The officers, who feared they were going to be attacked, backed away and the Adams brothers fled the scene in the 4x4 but were later arrested.

Thomas Adams was jailed for eight years and four months after he admitted a series of offences including violent disorder and theft in relation to the incident in Pudsey and a commercial burglary in Mytholmroyd.

Robert Adams, of Fairburn Gardens, Eccleshill, Bradford, pleaded guilty to his role in the commercial burglary and the offences of violent disorder and theft.

He was jailed for four years.

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Judge Peter Benson said the PCSOs had shown great bravery in attempting to apprehend Thomas Adams and Det Con Sellars had courageously stopped to assist them without any of the usual protective equipment.