A man from Durham has been jailed for four years for robbery, aggravated vehicle taking and assault of an emergency worker.
Gavin Aldworth, 38, of Bishop Auckland was yesterday (June 29) been sentenced at Preston Crown Court.

On Thursday 6 April this year, Aldworth approached the victim who was heading to his parked car on Rawlinson Street, Barrow. He asked the victim for directions to an address and pointed to his phone, whilst distracted Aldworth stuck the victim to head and neck causing him to fall to the floor.

As the victim fell, he dropped his car keys were Aldworth made demands for the victim to give him his keys. The victim ran up Harrison Street where a witness called the police and Aldworth left in the victim’s vehicle.

Shortly after officers received a report of a collision on the A590 near Greenodd which a member of the public reported seeing the driver running off in the direction of Kendal.

Officers attended the scene of the collision and located the car taken earlier that evening with significant damage, the driver’s airbag deployed and keys still in the ignition.

Officers located the Aldworth a mile from the collision site on the A590 were he resisted arrest, spat at officers, and bit an officer on his hand causing injury.
Officers arrested Aldworth and he was taken into police custody.

Detective Constable Matt McFall, officer in case stated “The offender set upon a local man in order to steal his car keys on Rawlinson Street, Barrow in an attempt to get back to the North East by taking the victims vehicle.

“Aldworth then drove the stolen car to a petrol station to fill up with fuel. He later crashed and decamped the vehicle. He was stopped around a mile away where he assaulted a Police officer.
“His behaviour has landed him with a well-deserved period in jail”.