Sunderland woman ran from cops after being chased in car stolen from South Tyneside garage

A Sunderland woman was collared by police after she fled from a car stolen from a South Tyneside garage in an early hours raid.
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Toni Peel, 31, of Ribble Road, Hylton Red House, Sunderland, jumped from the Fiat Punto after officers gave chase and it stopped – and was held nearby.

It was one of two cars taken from Station Garage, in Station Approach, East Boldon, at around 4am on Tuesday, June 16, a court heard.

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Police were contacted by the outlet’s manager after he received a mobile phone security alert that the double raid was ongoing.

South Tyneside Law Courts.  Picture by FRANK REID. South Tyneside Law Courts.  Picture by FRANK REID.
South Tyneside Law Courts. Picture by FRANK REID.

Minutes later they spotted the pinched Punto zoom past on the A1018 Newcastle Road, near Fulwell – and set off in pursuit, magistrates in South Tyneside were told.

Prosecutor Leanne Duffy said: “At 4.02am the witness received an alert on his mobile phone of an alarm going off.

“He checked CCTV and found that two vehicles had been stolen from the garage. One a Fiat Punto, the other was a Ford Fiesta.

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“At 4.32am officers were on the A1018 when one of the stolen vehicles drives past at speed.

“They set off in pursuit and the vehicle failed to stop. When it did, the defendant was a passenger and ran.

“The police gave chase, and she was detained and arrested.”

Peel, who was not in court but pleaded guilty to being carried in a stolen vehicle via her solicitor Paul McAlindon.

The driver was also held but not charged, and the court did not hear about the status of the second stolen vehicle.

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Defending, Mr McAlindon said: “Importantly, she’s a young lady without any convictions, though she has some cautions.

“The vehicles were not taken by Ms Peel. Police come upon one of the vehicles.

“She tells me that she was picked up after the event, and not long after that the police come.

“CCTV clearly shows that there’s only one person there and that wasn’t Ms Peel.

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“It was a very stupid thing for her to do, she got into a car without knowing its origins.”

Magistrates fined Peel £80 and she must pay £85 costs and a £34 victim surcharge.

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