Man stole pregnant woman’s car, robbed café, fled to Washington and caused crash during two-hour crime spree

A man stole a pregnant woman’s car, robbed a café, and caused a car crash all on the same morning.

Jordan Cuthill carried out an early-morning crime-spree lasting around two hours in June, which involved him stealing two women’s cars and robbing a café.

The 33-year-old – who had taken a “significant quantity of drugs” – drove one of the stolen cars to Washington, but crashed into another vehicle as he was driving on the opposite side of the road.

On Monday, Cuthill, of no fixed address, appeared at Durham Crown Court via link from HMP Durham to be sentenced for offences of robbery, aggravated vehicle taking, possession of a blade, and driving whilst disqualified. He had pleaded guilty to the offences.

The court heard that shortly before 6.30am on June 7 this year, a pregnant woman was driving a VW Polo when she stopped off at a cash machine in Langley Park, County Durham. When she returned to her car, she saw Cuthill standing close by.

But as she got into her car and went to close her door, Cuthill put his arm in the way. Judge Francis Laird KC, said: “You demanded she get out. She was terrified and got out. You got in the car and drove away, she ran to a nearby pub to call for help.”

Cuthill then drove the woman’s car to Chester-le-Street, where he crashed and abandoned it. He then wandered into a nearby café where he asked for a bacon sandwich. But as he got served, he reached into a cutlery draw and pulled out a bread knife before demanding money.

The court heard the terrified proprietor – who had no cash in the till – ran out of the shop before throwing a five pound note on the ground and telling him to take it. Cuthill then asked the man, ‘Don’t you know who I am?’

As Cuthill – who was still carrying the knife and a bottle of wine – walked off, he encountered another lone woman who had parked her VW Beetle close to the café. Judge Laird said: “You demanded she hand over her car keys and phone. In fear, she complied.

“You got in her car and drove three miles to Washington, driving dangerously. You were driving at speed on the opposite carriageway as a vehicle was heading directly towards you. He was simply on his way to work.”

Cuthill – who was banned from driving – then smashed into the man’s car before casually walking away. He was arrested around half an hour later and claimed to have no recollection of what he’d done that morning.

Paul Abrahams, prosecuting, read out the victim statement of the pregnant victim, who feared for her unborn child at the time. She was concerned the incident could have caused issues with her pregnancy, the court heard.

Marte Alnaes, defending, said Cuthill has “long standing issues with substance abuse” and had suffered a traumatic brain injury after being involved in a motorcycle accident while wearing no helmet. She said: “He has significant difficulties in terms of functioning properly in the community.”

She said that due to being in and out of prison, Cuthill has struggled to get “appropriate treatment” for his brain injury. She added he used to have his own landscaping business but has “clear problems with alcohol and substance misuse”.

Sentencing Cuthill, Judge Laird said he had taken a “significant quantity of drugs” on the day of the spree, which lasted around two hours in total.

He handed him a 10 and-a-half year extended prison sentence, three years of which will be on licence. He was also banned from driving for six years and nine months.