Adrian Leek, 43, from Birmingham, has been sentenced to two years and four months in prison after stealing a £23,000 BMW from Hilton Garage in Derbyshire and crashing it shortly after.
Leek, a serial offender with 150 previous crimes, attended the dealership with an unidentified woman on February 23, 2022. During the visit, he was asked to make a 1p deposit as a test-drive requirement but claimed he couldn’t. Instead, Leek took advantage of the situation and drove off in the BMW i3.
As he left the showroom, Leek collided with a Range Rover in the forecourt and then dangerously drove the wrong way around a nearby roundabout, crashing head-on into an Audi Q3. The Audi was written off with damages estimated at £15,000, and the occupants suffered minor injuries. After the collision, Leek abandoned the BMW and fled on foot.
Court documents revealed that Leek used a false name to book the test-drive. Staff noticed the vehicle moving only after Leek had driven off. One employee had even unwittingly opened the exit barrier, allowing Leek to escape the premises.
Prosecutor Pierre de Garis outlined Leek’s extensive criminal history, including 81 theft-related offenses dating back to 1998. Defending counsel Sarah Turner explained that Leek’s actions were driven by drug debts and that he had made progress in prison by becoming drug-free and securing work during his remand period.
Birmingham Crown Court also banned Leek from driving for the duration of his sentence.
