Men jailed after 'one of the worst cases of hijacking' judge has seen

Two men have been jailed over what a judge has described as "one of the worst cases of hijacking" they have come across.

The offences were committed on 1 June 2019 and involved numerous hijackings, attempted hijackings and dangerous driving between Newcastle and Belfast.

Several motorists, including an 82-year old man, were assaulted during the course of offending and some of the vehicles stolen were so badly damaged that they were written off.

Declan Anthony Collins, 36, from Graham Gardens in Lisburn, was sentenced to four years for a total of nine charges and 37-year-old Sean Mateer, from Helen Street in Crumlin, had a sentence of three years and two months imposed for seven offences.

Both men had pleaded guilty to three counts of hijacking and four counts of attempted hijacking, while Collins admitted driving dangerously and driving whilst disqualified.

On Thursday, Belfast Crown Court heard the crime spree commenced at about 11:15 BST, when the pair were seen driving out of a caravan park in Newcastle, County Down.

The VW Golf was registered to Collins, who was driving despite being disqualified.

Twenty minutes later, a police officer observed the car being driven dangerously in Ballynahinch. The same vehicle was later found abandoned with the engine still running.

A short time later, the first hijacking occurred.

The court heard an 85-year-old man was approached and, after refusing to give them his Peugeot car, he was punched and dragged from the vehicle, which was driven away at speed.

The next incident happened at the junction of Old Ballynahinch Road and Saintfield Road, at about 11:48 local time.

The driver of an Audi RS3 saw the hijacked vehicle parked sideways across the main road and witnessed two males exit the vehicle, running towards him.

Fearing his car would be hijacked, the driver accelerated and drove off. As he did so, one of the defendants threw a bottle at the car, causing minor damage.

At about 11:52, the hijacked vehicle rammed a Skoda at the junction of the Saintfield Road and Carryduff Road.

The driver, a 71-year-old American tourist, was approached by the two men and punched in the face.

One of the defendants sat in the driver's seat of the Skoda, but after the tourist's wife and daughter took action, the pair abandoned their attempt and fled in the stolen Peugeot.

At noon in Carryduff, the Peugeot collided with the back of a Seat Leon. The female driver got out, thinking it was an accident.

One defendant jumped into her driver's seat, while the other threw her to the ground. The car was then driven past her, followed by the Peugeot.

Both cars were noted driving erratically with the Peugeot subsequently crashing into the rear of the Seat Leon and being abandoned on the Saintfield Road.

Both defendants then left in the Seat Leon, driving dangerously between Carryduff and Newcastle, colliding with a number of other vehicles before being abandoned on the Purdysburn Road.

Two further attempted hijackings followed.

The pair approached a black BMW, which drove off after one of the defendant's attempt to open the door.

They then approached a Skoda Octavia where one of the defendant's entered the rear seat, put his fingers against the driver's head and said: 'I have a gun, drive.'

His wife, who was a passenger, was assaulted and, after the would-be hijacker exited the vehicle, the pair drove off.

A final hijacking was carried out at the junction Purdysburn Road and Greenwood Glen.

Collins and Mateer approached a Renault Clio and one of the men opened the driver's door and told the owner he was going to take his car.

The driver refused, he was told he would be shot and a struggle ensued before he was punched in the face.

Both defendants got into the Clio and drove off at speed.

At 12:19, police received reports that the hijacked Clio was being driven dangerous on the Boucher Road.

Witnesses said a passenger was opening and closing the doors, shouting 'yeo' and 'up the hoods'.

The car then left the Boucher Road and was subsequently abandoned and burnt out on Beechmount Avenue at about 12:20, with two males seen running from the scene.

Both men gave 'no comment' responses when arrested.

They later pleaded guilty.

On Thursday, Mateer's solicitor said his client has undergone "transformative change" since 2019, including an intensive course to address alcoholism.

Collins's defence barrister told Judge Kerr that while nothing could excuse the "rampage" which was "fuelled by drink and drugs", his client was "ashamed" by the offending.

Judge Kerr described the crime spree as "joyriding" which had the potential for "catastrophic" consequences.

As he jailed the men, he said: "I consider this one of the worst cases of hijacking that I have come across in these courts over the many years practicing and sitting as a judge."

In addition to the four-year term, Judge Kerr sentenced Collins to an additional six months for the driving offences.