Man jailed for stealing cars whilst posing as prospective buyer

A man who posed as a prospective car buyer in order to steal vehicles during test drives has been jailed for nine years.

Adam Bodycote from Beech Road in Wednesbury targeted motorists who had listed cars with online sales sites.

His crimes even left some owners injured after they had tried to cling onto their cars.

Bodycote's stealing spree went on between 5 December 2016 and 8 February 2017. In this time, he used a range of tactics to distract sellers before speeding away in cars including BMWs, Mercedes and Audis.

During one car robbery, the 28-year-old dragged the victim for several metres as he held onto the door frame. He narrowly missed a lamppost before being flung onto a grass verge.

Bodycote was identified when he inadvertently linked his own WhatsApp account to the phone number he used to communicate with his victims − and from which detectives seized his photograph.

He was listed as wanted on national police systems and went on the run as West Midlands Police carried out several warrants at addresses linked to him.

At Wolverhampton Crown Court, he admitted seven car thefts, three robberies, petrol theft and driving while disqualified.

Detective Tom Finney, from West Bromwich Investigation Team said: