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Dramatic footage shows police chasing a getaway lorry down a motorway, before arresting five men who had stolen £90,000 worth of alcohol.
The thieves had taken premium gin, rum and champagne from a distillery in Wadebridge, Cornwall and were caught on the M42 near Birmingham.
In video footage released by police, officers can be seen chasing the lorry and at one point a police car crashes headfirst into the vehicle in an attempt to stop it. An officer can be heard screaming in pain in the background.
The police have since revealed that he suffered bruising and severe whiplash in the crash.
The HGV also hit another car, causing minor injuries to three people.
A road block eventually deflated the tyres of the lorry and another police vehicle rammed the vehicle into the central barrier, where it stopped.
The driver of the lorry then jumped out and made off across the busy lanes of the motorway but was caught a short distance away.
His front seat passenger was also arrested on the grass verge.
A police car crashes headfirst into the lorry (Picture: West Midlands Police/SWNS)
The stolen haul of alcohol (Picture: West Midlands Police/SWNS)
When police opened the back doors of the lorry, they found three more men with the boxes of stolen alcohol.
A second officer also suffered injuries during the incident, said police.
Birmingham Crown Court heard the theft, which happened on September 8 last year, had been extensively planned and each of the gang had designated roles.
The premises and offices were ransacked, bottles of alcohol were opened and smashed on the floor and entry points were damaged.
From left to right, James Delaney, Joshua Selvey and Reiss Crombie (Picture: West Midlands Police/SWNS)
Adam Leek, left, and Sam Hall (Picture: West Midlands Police/SWNS)
Getaway driver Adam Leek, 40, was jailed for five years and eight months after admitting conspiracy to commit burglary, two counts of assaulting an emergency worker, dangerous driving, disqualified driving and driving without insurance.
Leek, from Birmingham, was also banned from driving for five years and five months.
Front passenger Sam Hall, 29, was jailed for 31 months for conspiracy to commit burglary and possession of a class B drug.
James Delaney, 37, Joshua Selvey, 23, and Reiss Crombie, 32, all from Birmingham, were jailed for 33, 28 and 28 months respectively for conspiracy to commit burglary.
A second police car pushed the lorry into the central barrier where it stopped (Picture: West Midlands Police/SWNS)
Three men were discovered in the back of the lorry (Picture: West Midlands Police/SWNS)
One of the bottles of gin stolen (Picture: West Midlands Police/SWNS)
Selvey was also convicted of possession of a class B drug.
Delaney failed to appear at court for a second time and was sentenced in his absence.
A warrant has been issued for his arrest.
Inspector Sion Hathaway, from Central Motorway Police Group, said: ‘Our officers are highly trained at driving in unpredictable and dangerous situations.
‘They continually assess any pursuit to determine risk to the subject vehicle and other road users.
The driver and passenger try to escape across the motorway (Picture: West Midlands Police/SWNS)
One of the thieves is detained by police (Picture: West Midlands Police/SWNS)
An officer catches up with one of the men who tried to escape on foot (Picture: West Midlands Police/SWNS)
‘The driver of the lorry had only one aim, which was to avoid capture, no matter the cost to other members of the public.’
Inspector Hathaway said the National Police Air Service was involved to help ‘bring the incident to conclusion as safely as possible’.
She added: ‘Had the officers not taken positive action to stop this vehicle the consequences could have been catastrophic.
‘The serious injuries suffered by two officers left them in severe pain and needing lengthy treatment, which they are continuing to recover from today.
‘I applaud their actions on the day which no doubt prevented potential injury to members of the public.’
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