Havant man charged with attempted kidnap and dangerous driving

A 22-year-old man from Havant has been charged with a number of offences following a series of incidents near Birdham on Wednesday, 23 December.

It came after a man was reported to have crashed a stolen Fiat into a stationary BMW on the A259 near Apuldram at around 2.10pm.

The driver and passenger of the BMW were threatened and pushed by a man who left the scene along Apuldram Lane. A 75-year-old man was then threatened in his garden in Apuldram Lane and his Volvo was stolen.

Officers located the Volvo near the Manhood Peninsula at around 2.30pm, but the driver refused to stop. Shortly afterwards he was seen again and failed to stop a second time. The car crashed through a gate in Locks Way, Birdham, and ended up stuck in a ditch.

Benjamin Peace, 22, of Curdridge Close, Havant, was charged with robbery, attempted kidnap, two counts of common assault, dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle taking, driving with no licence, failing to provide a specimen of breath and possessing a bladed article in a public place.

He appeared before Brighton magistrates on Saturday (26 December). He did not enter a plea and was remanded in custody to be sent for trial at Chichester Crown Court on January 22.