Bournemouth man jailed after smashing into taxi

A man who slammed into a taxi while trying to escape from the police in a stolen car has been jailed.

Derek Watson, a 46 year old cabbie sustained major injuries, spending more than six weeks in hospital, after Gareth Glendor Picton crashed into his cab on Saturday, January 19. Mr Watson's injuries included a broken pelvis and a smashed ankle. He is expected to be back at work by July.

Bournemouth Crown Court heard how 38 year old Picton stole a Vauxhall Insignia in Vale Road, Bournemouth and was spotted driving the stolen car to a petrol station, filling it with petrol and driving off without paying.

Police in a marked car then saw the stolen car being driven with a space saver wheel on as well as a damaged wing mirror and tried to stop the vehicle. Picton was followed for a period of time before a marked car pulled across Charminster Road and requested the car to stop.

Picton then drove around the police car and onto the pavement before speeding off. Police then stopped following the car due to the danger in relation to the driving as well as the speed.

Picton then crashed head-on into Mr Watson’s taxi in Charminster Road, near to the junction with St Alban’s Crescent.

Mr Watson's passenger, a 15-year-old girl suffered minor injuries. Despite running off, an 18-year-old woman who was with Picton, was arrested nearby, with Picton arrested later that day.

Picton, of Milton Road in Charminster, was jailed for two years and disqualified from driving for three years. He was told he would have to take an extended re-test before getting his licence back after pleading guilty to dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle taking, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance, causing damage to a vehicle and failing to stop for officers. He also admitted a charge of making off from a petrol station without payment and burglary.