A pair of burglars stole a drone and £900 of cash from a rural wedding venue before speeding away in a police chase.
Christopher Higgs and David Nyari targeted Iscoyd Park Estate, a country house on the Wrexham and Shropshire border which hosts special events including weddings.
James Coutts, prosecuting at Mold Crown Court, said that, in the early hours of June 20 last year, Higgs and Nyari, from the West Midlands, were caught on camera sneaking into the venue's courtyard. They were then spotted leaving with a drone and a bag, which the venue's staff would later discover contained around £900 in cash, reports North Wales Live.
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The men made their escape at around 3am, having stolen a getaway truck from a farm which was less than a mile away. The police soon caught up with the stolen truck - driven by Nyari - and Higgs' Renault Clio on the A41 heading back towards the West Midlands, and a dangerous high-speed chase followed.
Mr Coutts said the men "split off" once they became aware of the police, with 35-year-old Nyari, of Brerteton Road, Willenhall, reaching speeds of up to 100mph in residential areas while "cutting corners" in an attempt to escape. He soon came to a stop after losing control and crashing into a field, where he was found wearing a snood and with a crowbar and walkie talkie.
The court heard that his accomplice tried to run off after he was chased along the M54 where he'd been driving on the wrong side of the road at more than one point. Higgs, of Davis Road, Willenhall was also discovered to have a walkie talkie along with the stolen cash and items.
Mr Coutts said that the presence of the devices indicated a level of "planning and sophistication" to the crime. Staff at the Wrexham venue only discovered the break-in when staff arrived for the morning shift.
Higgs and Nyari faced a burglary charge, and Nyari admitted aggravated vehicle taking and dangerous driving, while Higgs admitted two separate charges of dangerous driving.
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