A TERRIFIED mother feared her young son was still in her high-powered sports car when two carjackers sped off in the £40,000 vehicle after dragging her out of the driver’s seat.
Fortunately the quick-thinking nine-year-old had got out and fled after seeing his mum being manhandled by one of the robbers.
After desperately running after the car in pursuit of her son, the stricken mother was overwhelmed by relief to find him in a nearby street.
‘Drag-out’ robbers Gez Bennett and Shane Mullen were arrested after the mum’s designer handbag was later found hanging on a tree near Bennett’s Coventry home.
And at Warwick Crown Court Bennett (19) of Shulman’s Walk, Henley Green, and Mullen (21) of Glaisdale Avenue, Holbrooks, both pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to rob.
Bennett was jailed for four-and-a-half years after being given credit for his early plea, and Mullen, who only entered his plea on the day of his trial, for five years and four months.
The terrifying incident unfolded as the woman was leaving a beauty salon in Marlborough Road in the Stoke area of Coventry with her nine-year-old son at 7.50pm and went to her £40,000 Nissan GT-R parked nearby.
But as they got in Bennett, wearing a white baseball cap, came up to the driver’s door and demanded the keys.
When the woman refused, not least because her son was in the car, Bennett grabbed hold of her, pulled her out and threw her into the road before getting in.
Mullen then got into the passenger seat as the desperate mother, believing her son was still in the car, ran after it and tried to open the driver’s door before it sped away from her.
The high-speed Nissan was driven at more than 70mph along residential roads with cars parked on both sides.
And Judge Lockhart, who had previously watched footage from the car’s dash-cam, said it showed ‘terrifying driving,’ during which a jubilant Bennett could be heard saying ‘rally car son,’ and ‘best car we’ve had, bruv.’
Fortunately the woman’s son, on seeing his mum being dragged out of the car, had got out and run off – and after desperately running after the car she found him in nearby Argyle Street.
Bennett had a previous conviction for five burglaries and aggravated vehicle taking, while Mullen had convictions for burglary, handling and causing damage.
Footage from the car’s dash-cam, along with other evidence, was used to bring the violent duo to justice.
Evidence of them tracking another car, including following the driver on a number of occasions to his home, was also presented.
