Carlisle Man Jailed for Burglary and Dangerous Driving
A Carlisle man has been jailed for three years after a burglary at a rural home near Millom led to a dangerous police pursuit in which a Ford Mondeo was reversed into a police vehicle 11 times. Patrick Young, 37, of Firlands, Carlisle, was sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court on April 24th, 2026. After admitting burglary and being convicted of dangerous driving.
Young was also banned from driving for four years, with an additional extension period linked to his prison sentence.
Burglary at rural home near Millom
The court heard that police received a report of a burglary in the Whitbeck area in the early hours of September 10, 2025.
A widowed grandmother realised someone was inside her rural home north of Millom. She saw a man in a dark hoody, who then fled with another man in a car. Her handbag and a purse containing cash were stolen, along with a photo of her husband with her grandchildren.
The victim later described being disgusted by what had happened. She collapsed after the incident and an ambulance was called.
Black Mondeo seen on CCTV
Officers attended the scene and viewed CCTV footage which showed two men in a black Mondeo. While on patrol, police then spotted a black Mondeo which appeared to be trying to evade them.
The vehicle had false number plates. When officers activated their lights, the car made off.
Young, who was behind the wheel, refused to stop. The court heard he drove at high speed and carried out dangerous manoeuvres on roads between Wath Brow and Whitehaven.
Police car rammed repeatedly
During the pursuit, the Mondeo came to a stop on Croasdale Avenue in Whitehaven. It then reversed into the police vehicle 11 times before making off again.
Police later brought the car to a stop. Young and another man ran from the vehicle. Young was detained after being found in undergrowth. The second man was not traced.
Cumbria Police said the officer involved in the pursuit was not injured. The force also said tactical contact was used by the roads policing unit to bring the pursuit to a safe end because of the seriousness of the incident and the risk to the public.
Court hears of previous offences
Young admitted burglary and was convicted of dangerous driving. At the sentencing hearing, the court was told he had 105 previous offences on his record.
The court also heard that in 2022, Young had been jailed for burgling rural properties and farms, and for stealing a £35,000 motorhome which was used to ram a police vehicle during a pursuit.
Defence lawyer Eve Salter said Young had stayed out of trouble for a period before returning to crime. She told the court he accepted that, by committing the offences, he had let himself and his family down.
Recorder Julian Shaw sentenced Young to 36 months in prison. Addressing him in court, the judge said this type of offending was so serious that only a custodial sentence could be imposed.
Police warning over rural crime
Detective Constable Linzi Wilkinson said officers were able to quickly locate the vehicle believed to be linked to the burglary.
She said Young had put lives at risk by driving at speed and dangerously in an attempt to evade justice. She added that he had used his vehicle as a weapon by ramming the police vehicle multiple times.
Cumbria Police said the sentence should send a message to those targeting rural communities that offenders will be brought to justice.
