Carer is caught driving 'red-hot' stolen circus van

A “BINGE-DRINKING” carer seen driving a stolen van, was caught after he sped into a dead end in Stockton as the police chased him.

- By ESTHER HALLIGAN

Leon Lane, 29, was spotted behind the wheel of a Peugeot Partner van at 4am on October 27, last year.

The van belongs to a circus business based in Coventry. Planet Circus reported that the vehicle had been taken from their premises a day earlier.

The suspected thief was sitting in the passenger seat next to Lane. He was charged with vehicle theft, but the case against him was later discontinued.

On Friday, Teesside Crown Court heard that Lane, who has two previous convictions for dangerous driving, drove away from the police. Officers chased him as he went through a red light and reached 50mph in a 30-zone, Shaun Dryden, prosecuting, said.