The ‘distinctive’ hair of a career criminal that torched his escape car following a police chase led to him being identified on CCTV.
Malcolm Jones, aged 61, was pursued at 12 PM on April 7, last year, after he was seen dropping an addict off outside her home in a car believed to have been used to transport drugs.
He dodged authorities by driving at up to 50mph past a funeral procession but lost control and ploughed into a parked Mercedes before setting fire to his VW T-Roc 4×4 in Wigan, Greater Manchester, to avoid detection.
Officers who viewed the footage instantly realized Jones was the perpetrator due to Jones’ ‘distinctive’ hairline. Bolton Crown Court heard.
Incriminating footage showed him wearing a hooded jacket to hide his identity, but the police already recognized his distinctive shiny skin.
After being released early from the four-year sentence for firearms offenses, they discovered Jones was also on license from prison.
Jones was sentenced to two-year imprisonment for arson and dangerous driver. Jones was also prohibited from driving for one year, which will begin when he’s released from jail.
Malcolm Jones was convicted of arson and dangerous driving. He was sentenced to two years in prison. Jones was also prohibited from driving for one year, which will begin when he’s released from jail
Before sentencing, Judge Tom Gilbart stated to him that “Driving the way you did in order to escape detection was selfish” and that you were a danger to other people. It was set on fire, and the car was destroyed.
Jennifer Devans Tamakloe was the prosecutor. She stated that the officers stopped the car before and found the driver to be the defendant. They did so because they thought it was being supplied with drugs.
The woman was left at the side of the road after they followed the VW. Although police activated sirens, the defendant drove past the entrance to the shopping mall and mounted a kerb before slipping past another vehicle.
“The driver was driving at speeds up to 50 mph. He eventually lost control of his car and drove into a Mercedes that had parked. The damage caused to the VW wheel arch was severed.
He continued to drive and violated a red signal, however, a funeral cortege with 80 mourners was there at that point. A horse-drawn carriage and an accompanying wagon were also present. The defendant drove round the bend, scattering some mourners. Officers called off pursuit.
“Five minutes later the officers were able to obtain information that the VW had caught fire on a street near them. The CCTV was located at a local business and officers identified the suspect who set the car on fire before he fled.
“They could recognize him by his hairline. The images clearly show this.”
Malcolm Jones (61), was chased by police at 12pm last April after being seen leaving a woman who is known to be addicted outside their home. Police believed that the vehicle had been used for drug supply. After driving up to 50mph through a funeral procession, Jones lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a Mercedes parked in front. He then set fire to his VW T-Roc 4×4 at Wigan, Greater Manchester to avoid detection.
Jones went to police and was searched at his house. Clothing he was wearing, including a blue jumper with a hood and a dark jacket and coat were seized.
Investigative inquiries revealed that he was loaned the VW from a friend. It was worth approximately 30,000 Pounds and was destroyed in the accident. Insurers will not pay as Jones was named on it.
Jones had 27 convictions, including for robbery as well as supplying heroin or cocaine. Jones was sentenced in 2018 to seven years in jail for keeping a gun in his house. This weapon was later used for a farm robbery.
In mitigation Miss Suzanne Payne was his lawyer. She stated that the offense was committed out of impulse when he was pursued by police. Since then, he has reflected upon it and said that he didn’t understand why he had set the vehicle on fire. He was not intended to cause severe damage.
“He was granted a licence for his prior offence, but this was before the country went into lockdown. He just came out of an enclosed setting and was freed for only a few minutes before he returned to an enclosed place due to lockdown.
“He’s had a difficult time with his mental health over the past few years and was in a very low place at the time of this offense. He panicked when he saw police, but he cannot give any more explanations for his actions. Although no one was injured, he admits to the danger and inability to forgive himself.