A violent carjacker who knocked a 73-year-old man to the ground and stole his Audi before leading police on a 100mph chase has been jailed for four years and eight months. Corey Palmer, 21, from Erdington, admitted robbery and dangerous driving at Birmingham Crown Court.
The incident occurred on September 11 in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands. The elderly victim and his wife were driving their Audi A5 when they became suspicious of a motorbike following them. After they stopped, Palmer, who had been a passenger on the bike, approached the driver, knocked him to the ground, and demanded the car keys. An accomplice on the motorbike ordered the terrified wife out of the vehicle; she was later seen on CCTV cowering behind a lamppost.
Palmer then drove off in the stolen Audi, reaching speeds of 100mph in 40mph zones and going the wrong way around a roundabout. He crashed the car into a wall and attempted to flee on foot, discarding his clothes. A member of the public pointed him out to police, leading to his arrest.
Judge Dean Kershaw told Palmer: 'You targeted that elderly couple, targeting them in their car because no doubt in your mind and probably the mind of your associate, they would be easy pickings. The 73-year-old man, who was with his wife, did his absolute best to try and stop you taking that car.' The judge added that Palmer had shown 'a total disregard for other people' and had planned the robbery.
