THIEVES pulled up alongside a car, dragged a terminally ill man from it and drove away in convoy.

But, they were stopped by a determined traffic officer.

PC Chris Storey pursued the men in his car as they drove away in the stolen BMW 4 series and a black Fiat Punto from Claremont Road, Seaford at about 12.50 on November 7.

The BMW driver tried to lose the officer by pulling into Applegreen petrol station in Barnhorn Road but the PC Storey rammed the car with his as it exited the garage.

The Argus:

The driver tried to escape by running to the Fiat, which was waiting in Barnhorn Road, and getting into the passenger seat but the officer charged into this vehicle as well, smashing the passenger seat window.

The Argus:

The thugs attempted to get away on foot but PC Chris Storey ran after them and caught the BMW driver, unemployed Thomas Munday, 25, of no fixed address, in nearby Coneyburrow Lane, Bexhill.

Munday was remanded in custody and charged with robbery, drink-driving and driving with no insurance.

He pleaded guilty to all three offences and was sentenced to five years in prison at Lewes Crown Court on January 17.

He was also banned from driving for four years starting when he is released, and ordered to pay a £170 victim surcharge.

The Fiat driver was found later that day in Ticehurst Avenue, also Bexhill, by response officers and a dog unit.

He was identified as Billy Draper, 22, a tarmac layer of Nightingale Road, Maidstone, Kent.

Draper was recalled to prison, having previously been released on licence.

He was charged with robbery, driving while disqualified and driving with no insurance and pleaded guilty to all three offences at Lewes Crown Court on January 17.

He was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment and was ordered to pay a £170 victim surcharge.

The Argus:

PC Storey said: “Our main priorities are to keep people safe on our roads and to deal robustly with offenders. Occasionally, we are required to deal with incidents where criminals are determined to get away.

“Unfortunately for them, I was determined to stop them and, with the help of our response and dog units, we were able to safely secure these two dangerous individuals.

“Had they got away, the extent of their criminality could easily have escalated. I’m thankful no one was seriously hurt and justice has been served.”

Sergeant Dan Pitcher, of the Polegate Roads Policing Unit, said: “I would personally like to commend PC Storey, whose quick-thinking actions helped apprehend two dangerous criminals.

“Our roads policing officers receive regular training and are highly skilled to deal with incidents such as this, however it still takes a level of poise and professionalism to execute one tactical stop, let alone two.

“Further to this, PC Storey was able to chase and detain one suspect, and back-up was called to locate and detain the second suspect.

“Chasing someone on foot, with all the equipment our officers are required to carry, is no easy task, and this highlights the rigorous fitness tests our officers go through to be able to perform to the best of their abilities.”