Birmingham carjacker jailed for over a decade after stealing car and running over owner

A carjacker who attempted to steal a car and then ran the owner over in Birmingham has been jailed.

William Lewis stole a car in Chester Road, Tyburn in November last year in the forecourt of a petrol station.

The owner of the car had been filling his tyres with air when Lewis, 40, climbed into the driver's seat and attempted to drive off in it.

While Lewis was driving off the owner became trapped under the car, being dragged for some distance.

Lewis then climbed out, pulled him from under the car, and left him behind.

The robbery left the owner with life changing injuries, which he is still recovering from today.

A huge CCTV operation was launched in the days after the incident to capture footage from the garage and nearby cars.

The car was later found abandoned in Chelmsley Wood with Lewis actively avoiding arrest.

However, West Midlands Police managed to track him down to an address in Chelmsley Wood. While being arrested, Lewis assaulted two officers and he continued to be abusive while in custody- refusing to leave his cell for an interview.

Further investigations found that Lewis was responsible for more carjacking offences in Yardley and Solihull.

Lewis was jailed for 11-and-a-half years for robbery, theft of a motor vehicle, causing serious injury by dangerous driving and causing grievous bodily harm.

He was also charged with assaulting officers in custody and a previous burglary in Birmingham.

DS Curt Wilkins, who led the investigation, said: "This was a shocking robbery which left the victim with serious and long-lasting injuries.

"Thanks to the overwhelming amount of evidence linking William Lewis to the crime, we were able to track him down, build our case and charge him.

"He is clearly a highly dangerous individual and it is a good thing for the public that he is now off the streets.

"Hopefully the people he has harmed through his history of offending can gain some comfort from the knowledge he has been brought to justice."

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