A teenager who robbed a woman of her car at knifepoint was faced with a big problem. He couldn't drive her automatic Vauxhall Corsa and crashed it moments later.
Ben Johnson approached his victim as she returned to her car parked in Cabot Circus car park, Bristol Crown Court heard. After showing her a large blade in his waistband she handed over her car keys - but when he climbed in he saw the Corsa was an automatic and he asked her how to drive it.
As he struggled to get underway she managed to flee down a stairwell and call police. After Johnson managed to move the car from the car park he shot down Temple Way and careered into stationary traffic, leaving at least one driver hurt.
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Police have now released CCTV footage of the moment Johnson smashed into stationary traffic after stealing the woman's car at knifepoint. *Watch it at the top of the story*
Johnson, 18, from Southampton but then living on licence at premises in Brigstocke Road, St Pauls, pleaded guilty to robbery, possessing a blade and dangerous driving in July. Judge Martin Picton handed him 56 months custody with three years' extended licence. Johnson faces a three-year driving ban on his release from custody.
The judge told him: "You caused serious harm. What you do has an effect and you do represent a future risk."
Ellen McAnaw, prosecuting, said Johnson approached the woman, blocked her way and told her he wanted her car. She thought he was joking, the court heard, but he then said he was taking her car and he was not going to hurt her.
Miss McAnaw told the court: "He said his daughter had been kidnapped. He revealed a knife in his waistband. She handed her car keys over, minus her house key."
With that Johnson told the woman to get in her passenger seat but she refused. After asking her for help to drive the automatic, and struggling to do so, she took the chance to get away and called police.
Miss McAnaw said: "The defendant drove the vehicle out of the car park and on to Temple Way. Police were pretty quickly in pursuit."
The court heard moments later Johnson smashed into stationary traffic at speed, bouncing onto the roof of one car before running off - leaving his blade in the footwell. He then jumped into the nearby river and police detained him.
The court heard how one driver Johnson crashed into suffered physical, psychological and financial difficulties as a result. The victim of the robbery itself suffered anxiety problems and feared she may have suffered a miscarriage as a result of the incident.
Emily Evans, defending, cited her remorseful client's prompt guilty plea, young age and mental health issues in mitigation. She said he had been pressured to sell drugs, his family in Southampton had been threatened and he wanted to get there and protect them.
Miss Evans said he had been using Valium and mixing it with alcohol. On the day in question he had heard voices. Miss Evans told the court: "He took the decision to take this car to get back to Southampton. It was a stupid decision, he didn't know how to drive."
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