Man in court after police cars rammed in pursuit

Police have charged a man with a series of shop burglaries and criminal damage after it’s alleged he rammed several police cars during a pursuit.

Officers on patrol in Walsall on Tuesday morning tried to pull over a suspected stolen van they believed was linked to retail burglaries. The van made off and police cars were damaged before the vehicle came to a stop in Guild Avenue in Blakenall at around 10:10am. 

Christopher Talbot, from Wolverhampton, has been charged with criminal damage to three police BMWs, plus two cars belonging to members of the public, and a wall.

The 38-year-old has also been charged with dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, and aggravated vehicle taking. It’s alleged he was behind the wheel of a Transit van that was stolen in Walsall on 17 March.

Talbot is also accused of committing four burglaries in the space of eight days at the branch of Next in Telford. He’s charged with burglary on 20, 22, 23 and 28 March.

Five police officers were hurt during the incident but none were seriously injured. He has been remanded into custody and is set to appear in Wolverhampton Magistrates Court.