More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A disqualified driver who robbed a fellow motorist of his BMW by pretending to buy it has been sent to prison.
Joel Morgan hijacked the car in Maidstone before going on the run only to be found hiding in an airing cupboard 130 miles away.
Joel Morgan is arrested
The 29-year-old led police on two car chases - one at 130 mph with a pregnant lover in the passenger seat - before losing control and wrecking the BMW.
Now he has been sent to prison for robbery, aggravated vehicle taking, driving while disqualified, driving while uninsured and driving dangerously.
He is also banned from driving for 43 months.
A jury at Maidstone Crown Court heard how Morgan had travelled to Tintern Road, Allington after saying he wanted to buy the BMW which was advertised on Facebook by Laurentiu Dragan.
But when Morgan, of Dickens Road, Ringlestone, was given the opportunity to take it for a test drive he got into the driver's seat and drove away, with his pregnant lover inside.
Prosecutor Peter Forbes said Mr Dragan tried to stop the theft but was punched in the face and had to jump clear, receiving minor injuries.
The jury heard the robbery was reported immediately and Morgan was arrested within 36 hours.
He said: "He maintained on arrest that the vehicle had been sold to him. Unfortunately for the defendant, a neighbour of Mr Dragan had seen the incident and more unfortunately for him it was an off-duty police officer."
The court heard how in May last year the BMW was put up for sale for £500 and after an exchange of messages, Morgan, his pregnant girlfriend and two friends arrived in a silver VW Golf
The jury heard that after discussions about a possible car swap, Romanian Mr Dragan was not happy, saying the Golf was different to the one in a picture he had been sent.
Morgan then asked for a test drive in the three series BMW and got into the driver's seat with his friends in the rear.
Mr Dragan was getting in the passenger's seat when Morgan started to drive away, causing Mr Dragan to grab the handbrake.
Mr Forbes said: "But the defendant took the handbrake off and reversed very fast. Mr Dragan reached again for the handbrake and was trying to get the car keys as he was punched in the face.
"Morgan then started to reach for something and Mr Dragan, fearing it might have been a weapon, allowed the car to drive around him.
"He could hear a woman in the BMW shouting: 'Joel, calm down. Calm down' and heard Morgan shout: 'You sold me the car'."
Mr Forbes said the Golf was left at the scene but without any keys.
The next day the BMW was seen on the M25 but as police began to follow it it accelerated to speeds of between 110 mph and 130 mph and smashed through a coned off area.
It was seen by police two hours later travelling on the A30 towards Salisbury and a second chase took place through a built-up area.
Mr Forbes said the BMW was later found abandoned and smashed. Police then searched a nearby house and discovered Morgan hiding in an airing cupboard.
Morgan was found guilty of robbery and aggravated vehicle taking. He had earlier admitted two charges of driving dangerously, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.
He was jailed for 40 months.
For information on how we can report on court proceedings, click here.
