A man who robbed a couple at knifepoint and then led police on a dangerous wrong-way chase has been jailed. Thomas Lacson, 29, pleaded guilty to robbery and dangerous driving and was handed a 10-year extended sentence by Judge Amanda Rippon.
The incident began in the early hours of March 30 when the victims were leaving a Taco Bell car park off the A66 in South Bank after collecting their food. Lacson, wearing a balaclava and armed with a six-inch kitchen knife, approached them from behind.
Robbery at Taco Bell Car Park
John Crawford, prosecuting, said Lacson demanded money or he would stab the male victim. When the man said he had no money, Lacson demanded his car keys. The victim handed them over, and as Lacson got into the car, he shouted: "Don't call the police or I'll slash your lass up."
In a victim impact statement, the man said they were "totally caught off guard when confronted with a masked man armed with a knife." He said he feels anxious and is more conscious of his surroundings, adding that he was considering speaking to his GP about the impact. His partner described the incident as like a "fever dream," saying she took a month off work and has suffered panic attacks at work. She said her GP thinks she may have post-traumatic stress disorder.
Dangerous Police Pursuit
Despite the threat, the couple called police. A pursuit began at 12.50am when Lacson made off in the stolen red VW Passat. Mr Crawford said police repeatedly lost sight of him but were able to relocate him. Lacson broke speed limits, driving at 65mph in a 30mph zone, with his lights off, on the wrong side of the road, and caused a taxi to mount the kerb to avoid a collision.
The pursuit was abandoned due to the level of risk, but around five minutes later Lacson was sighted again on Longlands Road at about 1.15am. During this second pursuit, he reached 70mph in a 30mph zone, drove across a grassed area near Tennyson Avenue, and at one stage drove towards a police vehicle, narrowly avoiding a collision. Police abandoned the pursuit several times before deploying stingers, which deflated the car's tyres. Lacson continued until the tyres were further deflated, then ran from the car and was quickly apprehended.
Previous Convictions and Sentence
Judge Rippon said: "It is only through good fortune that no members of the public or police officers were killed or seriously injured." She referred to a horrific incident in South Bank months earlier when a car driving the wrong way down the A66 resulted in the death of seven people, including officers PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough.
This was not Lacson's first similar offence. He was jailed for eight years and nine months in 2022 for robbery, attempted robbery, and dangerous driving. In a similar incident, he threatened a worker with a knife at Lookers Volkswagen dealership in Cannon Park, demanding a lift. He then forced an employee into a car and drove off, reaching 120mph in a 50mph section of the A66.
Lacson, who has 14 previous convictions for 32 offences, was released from prison on licence weeks before the latest offending. Judge Rippon said it demonstrates a "pattern of concerning behaviour." The judge concluded he was a dangerous offender and handed him a 10-year extended sentence. The custodial element is seven years and seven months, which he will serve two thirds of before being considered for parole, plus an additional two years and five months on licence.
