Botched security van robber sent to prison

Simon Shaw.

Simon Shaw.

A man who ran over a police officer in Lancaster during a failed robbery on a security van has been jailed.

Simon Shaw was convicted after his DNA was found on a pair of gloves near a stolen car which he abandoned before fleeing into countryside.

Shaw was driving one of two stolen vehicles bearing false number plates which started following the van in King Street on September 27 last year.

The driver of the Green Team Services Ltd van saw that he was being followed by Shaw and his accomplices and called police.

When officers arrived and tried stopping them, both cars sped off.

A male officer was hit by the vehicle being driven by Shaw when it mounted the kerb.

He suffered bruising but no serious injuries.

The car was later found dumped in Knowsley Road but it wasn’t until November 4 that Shaw was arrested and charged when the DNA discovery was made.

Shaw, 36, of Whitemoss Avenue, Blackpool, was sentenced to eight years in prison for conspiracy to commit robbery. He was given a further eight months for unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle in order to commit the crime.

Shaw had previously pleaded guilty to both charges at Preston Crown Court during a trial last month.

Detective Sergeant Fiona Jackson, of Lancaster CID, paid tribute to the vigilance of the security van driver which she said stopped the robbery taking place.

She added: “Shaw’s actions were dangerous and reckless, placing members of the public and police at risk of harm, and I am thankful no one was seriously injured.

“This was a serious and organised crime and I welcome the lengthy custodial sentence given to him today.”




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