A man who stole a caravan and then towed it so fast down the motorway that it toppled over, has been sentenced to jail.
Preston Crown Court heard how Anthony Robert Clarke, 27, stole a Land Rover and caravan from a farm in Longridge, before speeding off down the M6.
The thief was spotted by witnesses driving in the second and third lanes of the motorway, overtaking other vehicles at such a speed that the caravan was wobbling around, the Lancashire Evening Post reported.
Prosecutor Robert Baldwin said: “The caravan started to shake and wobble from side to side to the extent each wheel was bouncing off the ground,” the newspaper quoted.
Witnesses had described the caravan appearing to ‘hop’ down the motorway, it was going so fast.
The court heard that the caravan then became detached from the car before hitting a barrier, whereupon the vehicle veered to the side and toppled over.
The witnesses went to give assistance, only to see Mr Clarke running off down the motorway embankment.
Clarke pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking and theft of a caravan and was jailed for 69 weeks. He also received a two-year driving ban.
