Man Steals Car, Leads Police On High Speed Pursuit

A man from Cambridge who stole a car and led officers on a high speed pursuit has been jailed.

Connor Coppolla, 25, was reported to police at just before midnight on 1st February after an argument broke out with his partner in one of the rooms at the Travelodge Hotel in Newmarket Road.

It was established that Coppolla had been out drinking that night with his partner and friends and they had all come back to the hotel together.

During the argument, Coppolla hit his partner, a woman in her 20s, to the head, causing her to lose her sense of hearing for some time.

When victim checked her bag, she noticed that her keys had been stolen and as she attempted to go downstairs to follow him, he grabbed her and threw a drink over her inside the lift.

As the victim found safety with staff members, Coppolla left the hotel and stole the victim's car, a black Volkswagen EOS.

He was seen on CCTV crashing into a Jaguar 20d and then driving off in the wrong direction down a one way road, causing another car to crash into a parked car as it attempted to avoid Coppolla's vehicle.

While this was happening, the victim was able to track the offender on her phone and she was able to alert police and keep officers updated on his location.

Officers located Coppolla near Ashley Court where he was found sitting in the driver's seat. As an officer got out the car to speak to him, Coppolla lurched the car towards the officer, causing them to get back inside the police car to avoid being hit.

He then crashed into the police car and made off, causing a pursuit to begin with local and road policing officers.

During the pursuit, Coppolla drove through red lights and was recorded driving at a speed of 80mph in a 20mph zone.

He continued to drive at 75mph along Mowbray Road and then switched his lights off. Officers lost the car on Cherry Hinton but the victim’s phone allowed police to track him down on foot in Bridewell Road, where he was arrested.

While under arrest, Coppolla became aggressive and began passing in and out of consciousness causing officers to attempt to re-handcuff him in a different position. However, when doing this, Coppolla tensed up and threw his right arm up, assaulting an officer to the head.

Coppolla, of Nunns Way, Cambridge, pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated vehicle taking, two counts of assaulting an emergency worker, driving without a licence, driving without insurance and failing to provide a breath test. He pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault by beating which will lie on file.

He was sentenced to 14 months in prison at Peterborough Crown Court.