Woman crashed stolen fire engine

Catherine Durant had 'learnt her lesson'

A woman has admitted stealing a fire engine and crashing it while its crew was dealing with a flooding incident.

Catherine Durant, 45, from Pontypool, Torfaen, took the vehicle after the crew said damage at her home could be dealt with by "mopping up".

Magistrates heard she got into the cab while its crew worked next door.

Durant reversed into a BMW car and crashed into a wall. She was given a 240-hour community work order and banned from driving for a year.

She was also ordered to pay the fire service £250 compensation and the £200 insurance excess of the BMW owner.

Magistrates in Abergavenny heard how Durant's home was one of a number of properties affected by a local flooding incident at Little Mill in Pontypool on 16 August.

Firefighters were pumping out the garage of the next door property, which was on the same level as her living area, when she approached them for help.

The fire engine was pushing the BMW and the fire engine reversed into the wall Ruth Hale, prosecuting

The court heard a fire officer inspected her property and decided the flooding, one or two inches (2.5-5cms) in places, could be dealt with "by mopping up at best".

The fire engine was parked on private land and had been left with the keys in the ignition and the engine running to provide generator power for the crew to pump water out of the garage.

Moments later, said the prosecutor, Ruth Hale said: "They (the fire crew) heard the engine revving loudly and the reverse warning come on."

She said: "The fire engine was pushing the BMW and the fire engine reversed into the wall.

"A fire officer ran straight to the door, he opened the door and took the keys and turned off the engine."

The fire engine was unable to be used to respond to a 999 call

The damage to the engine's rear lights, bodywork and ladder meant it was taken out service and was unable to respond to a later 999 call.

James Campbell, defending, said his client, a sales rep for a food firm, had suffered a "moment of madness" in an "exceptional set of circumstances."

He told the court the family moved from Derbyshire in February and did not know the area was prone to flooding.

He said his client had been moving furniture due to the flood water and was "desperate" and had acted to draw the fire crew's attention to her plight.

Mr Campbell said: "She was under extreme pressure and she snapped. She fully accepts it was an incredibly stupid and dangerous decision. She has learned her lesson."

He said his client had fully cooperated with police over the incident and had been "humiliated and embarrassed" by the media coverage.

She pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking, and damaging a car and a brick wall. A charge of driving without third party insurance was dropped.

Durant was given a 300-hour community order but it was reduced to 240 hours to account for her guilty plea. Court costs of £43 were awarded against her.

Reaction

Following the hearing, deputy chief fire officer Kevin Barry of the South Wales Fire Service said: "It is unacceptable for members of the community to subject our fire crews to abuse at the scene of an incident, where they are only trying to help.

"To enter a fire and rescue service vehicle and carelessly manoeuvre it into other vehicles shows a total lack of respect for the hard work of the emergency services.

"The actions this person took are totally unacceptable and it is only right that she has pleaded guilty.

"The lives of our firefighters and members of the public in the vicinity were clearly put at risk by such irresponsible behaviour.

"We're satisfied with today's outcome, and are pleased that the courts have dealt with this incident appropriately," he added.