Stourbridge car-jacker gets six years in jail

Nov 27 2009 by Matt Lloyd, Birmingham Mail

A “DANGEROUS” Black Country car-jacker who preyed on lone women motorists has been jailed for six years.

Judge Michael Challinor told heroin addict David Hunter: “These offences were clearly planned and you targeted vulnerable victims.

“I regard you as posing a significant risk to lone women and there is a danger of you causing them harm in the future.”

He also told Hunter he would extend his licence on release from custody to ten years to “protect the public” and said: “I have got to deter others from thinking car-jacking is the way to go out and buy drugs.”

Car-jacking in the Black Country was becoming “all too prevalent,” he added. Hugh O’Brien-Quinn, prosecuting at Wolverhampton Crown Court, said Hunter threatened a 42-year-old Bearwood woman with the knife before dragging her out of her Peugeot car and escaping.

On another occasion he grabbed a 66-year-old woman in Cradley Heath, snatched her car keys and drove away in her Ford Focus.

Hunter, 25, of Murcroft Road, Stourbridge, admitted two charges of robbery.

The Judge described him as an intelligent man man, with nine GCSE’s and three A-levels.

But he added: “It was clearly your aim to take their cars and the offences were drug fuelled.

“The harm you have done is very significant.

“One of your victims, a 66-year-old woman, was quite badly bruised while the second woman was terrified at being dragged out of her car as you threatened her with a knife.”

He said Hunter had a long list of previous convictions for offences including possessing an imitation firearm, robbery and violence and urged him: “Turn away from crime and make the most of your life.”

Timothy Green, defending, said Hunter had written to his victims to apologise for his actions and maintained no serious injuries had been sustained by either woman.

He said Hunter had resorted to drugs and gambling after losing his job concluding: “He has a great sense of regret at the harm he has done.”