Gun-toting carjacker jailed over violent rampage

A man who crashed a stolen BMW into another car before going on a rampage, terrorising other drivers as he tried to steal their vehicles at gunpoint, has been jailed for 25 years.

Gavin Bennett, 45, drove into a Vauxhall Corsa on Penistone Road in Sheffield in September 2022, before fleeing the car and targeting other drivers in what police called a "gunpoint spree".

As police tried to arrest him, he drove directly at a special constable, leaving him stuck beneath the car and fearing for his life.

Bennett, of Carwood Close, Sheffield, was found guilty of robbery, possessing an imitation firearm, dangerous driving, handling stolen goods and assault and was jailed at Sheffield Crown Court.

He had also admitted a separate charge of assault for an attack on his barrister during a meeting where police said he punched them in the head and stabbed them with a pen.

As well as a jail sentence, Bennett was given a five-year driving ban extended for 13 years.

CCTV footage showed Bennett running a red light in the BMW and crashing into a red Corsa.

South Yorkshire Police said the occupants of the Corsa thought they were going to die as they saw the headlights coming towards them.

He then ran from the BMW and in attempt to find another car, approached a Ford Mondeo telling the people inside he had a gun and using the alleged weapon to try to smash the car's windows.

When this failed, he targeted another vehicle, threatening a mother and her teenage daughter.

Police said he brandished a gun before stealing their car and driving down the wrong side of the carriageway.

At the same time, a public order van containing three special constables came across the initial collision and stopped to help.

Bennett abandoned the stolen car and continued his rampage, going further down Penistone Road to hold another driver at gunpoint before stealing her VW Tiguan.

Special constables responding to the incident described it as "chaotic".

Bennett drove the Tiguan back to the BMW, as officers believed he intended to set fire to it to destroy evidence.

He shouted at officers: "Get away or I'll do you", before fleeing and almost colliding with a constable, who was pulled to safety by a colleague.

Police tried to detain him again but that was when he drove directly at a special constable, pushing him under the vehicle for several metres.

Bennett eventually stopped and reversed, allowing the injured officer to crawl behind a parked vehicle for cover.

He then drove towards Bradfield Road, and officers later found the Tiguan burnt out near Northern General Hospital.

Forensic tests on the BMW found Bennett's DNA on the airbags and he was later arrested.

He was charged and pleaded not guilty but while awaiting trial, attacked his own barrister in a meeting.

With no legal representation, he chose to represent himself in court and on 19 March a jury found Bennett guilty of two counts of robbery, two counts of possession of an imitation firearm with intent, two counts of dangerous driving, one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and handling stolen goods.

Det Ch Insp Andy Knowles said: "Bennett's behaviour throughout this incident was utterly abhorrent. He showed a complete disregard for human life.

"He terrorised innocent people, used a firearm to intimidate drivers and twice used vehicles as weapons against officers.

"The outcome for those officers could have been tragically different, and it is only through quick thinking and sheer luck that we weren't dealing with far greater injuries or even the death of officers."

Knowles said the sentence reflects the "extreme danger" Bennett posed to the public and to police officers.

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