Drunk joyrider takes stolen bus on 30-mile rampage causing £250,000 damage 'because he wanted to get home'
A man who stole a bus and took it on a 30-mile joyride and caused £250,000 of damage has been jailed.
Shane Oldroyd, 27, of Ossett, West Yorkshire, was three times over the drink-driving limit when he stole the single-decker Arriva bus and took it on a rampage through the streets of Wakefield in West Yorkshire.
When questioned by police in August, Oldroyd said: 'So what, I took the bus for a nice little ride.'
Along the way, he ploughed into more than 50 cars, damaged several walls and smashed numerous street signs.
Oldroyd had hidden behind the seats on the bus with his friend Sarah Smith after getting on at Wakefield bus station. He had then started the bus and decidedto drive home.
At Leeds Crown Court Judge Kerry Macgill jailed Oldroyd indefinitely to serve at least three-and-a-half years. CCTV footage, shot from a West Yorkshire police helicopter which tracked the bus through Wakefield city centre and surrounding towns, captured Oldroyd driving on the wrong side of the road, side-swiping other cars and destroying traffic lights as the bus smashed into them.
Oldroyd's friend Sarah Smith, 20, was travelling with him on the bus.
Reckless: Shane Oldroyd side-swiped cars and smashed traffic lights on his rampage
Detective Inspector Paul O'Dowd, of Wakefield District CID, said: 'Clearly this was a very dangerous act. They caused damage to a large number of vehicles and it is extremely lucky that no-one was seriously injured.
'Police acted to stop the bus as soon as it was safe to do so with minimal risk to members of the public.
'It was brought to a satisfactory conclusion by the two being apprehended and put before the courts.'
At an earlier hearing Oldroyd pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking and damaging a Mercedes car, and being reckless as to whether life was endangered.
He also admitted driving without insurance, driving over the alcohol limit and failing to stop after an accident.
Source: Drunk joyrider takes stolen bus on 30-mile rampage causing £250,000 damage 'because he wanted to get home'
Shane Oldroyd, 27, of Ossett, West Yorkshire, was three times over the drink-driving limit when he stole the single-decker Arriva bus and took it on a rampage through the streets of Wakefield in West Yorkshire.
When questioned by police in August, Oldroyd said: 'So what, I took the bus for a nice little ride.'
Along the way, he ploughed into more than 50 cars, damaged several walls and smashed numerous street signs.
Oldroyd had hidden behind the seats on the bus with his friend Sarah Smith after getting on at Wakefield bus station. He had then started the bus and decidedto drive home.
At Leeds Crown Court Judge Kerry Macgill jailed Oldroyd indefinitely to serve at least three-and-a-half years. CCTV footage, shot from a West Yorkshire police helicopter which tracked the bus through Wakefield city centre and surrounding towns, captured Oldroyd driving on the wrong side of the road, side-swiping other cars and destroying traffic lights as the bus smashed into them.
Oldroyd's friend Sarah Smith, 20, was travelling with him on the bus.
Reckless: Shane Oldroyd side-swiped cars and smashed traffic lights on his rampage
Detective Inspector Paul O'Dowd, of Wakefield District CID, said: 'Clearly this was a very dangerous act. They caused damage to a large number of vehicles and it is extremely lucky that no-one was seriously injured.
'Police acted to stop the bus as soon as it was safe to do so with minimal risk to members of the public.
'It was brought to a satisfactory conclusion by the two being apprehended and put before the courts.'
At an earlier hearing Oldroyd pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking and damaging a Mercedes car, and being reckless as to whether life was endangered.
He also admitted driving without insurance, driving over the alcohol limit and failing to stop after an accident.
Source: Drunk joyrider takes stolen bus on 30-mile rampage causing £250,000 damage 'because he wanted to get home'
