Mum and teen son victims of Bootle car-jackers

Nov 20 2009 by Chloe Griffiths, Liverpool Echo

A MUM and her teenage son were targeted by three weapon-wielding car jackers.

Angela Clarke and her 16-year-old son Michael were waiting at traffic lights in their Ford Ka when they were pounced upon by the three-strong gang.

Liverpool crown court heard James Weare, James Tallant, both 19, and Terence Starr, 18, flung open the car doors, brandishing weapons and forced them out on to Balliol Road, Bootle, shortly before 11pm on May 5.

When Mrs Clarke tried to resist she was dragged from the vehicle and was forced to watch the gang race off with her car, which still had her phone, cards and valuables inside.

Edmund Haygarth, prosecuting, told how Tallant, of Beatrice Street, Bootle, and Weare, of Travelyan Street, Walton, were caught after the vehicle was spotted about an hour later by police, who chased them in a high-speed pursuit.

With the help of the force helicopter they were stopped by Derby Park.

Starr, of Swindon Street, Anfield, was arrested later after his fingerprints were found on a vodka bottle in the car.

But less than two months later Starr and Weare carried out a further hijacking after holding a taxi driver at knife-point. Mr Haygarth said cabbie Brian Gosling picked up the pair, who asked to be taken to Formby, in Memorial Crescent, Bootle, at 5.30am on June 7.

But when they ran out of cash, the pair produced knives and pressed them to Mr Gosling’s throat and side.

Mr Haygarth said: “Both defendants had become very agitated and appeared to be working themselves up into a frenzy.”

He added that Starr was shouting: “We’ve stabbed people before, I’ve cut people up and killed people.”

They forced Mr Gosling to hand over £80 in takings and sped off in his cab.”

Judge William George said: “These were serious incidents, late at night involving a car with vulnerable people.”

He imposed an indefinite hospital order on Weare, who the court heard suffers from serious psychiatric problems and will now be detained at Rainhill’s Scott Clinic.

The teenager, who already has previous convictions for aggravated burglary and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, was also banned from driving for five years and ordered to take an extended re-test.

The judge sent Starr to a Young Offenders’ Institute for seven years and locked up Tallant, who has no previous convictions , for three years.