A Bloxwich man who was charged last year for attempting to steal cars has been jailed for five-and-a-half-years.
Paul Nightingale, aged 40, targeted women drivers in Bloxwich in a one-man crime spree last December.
He first targeted a female driving instructor in New Street by asking her for a business card and then jumped into her car armed with a pair of scissors. He attempted to tie her hands to the gearstick with a cable tie, but was unsuccessful in his attempt to steal the car as members of the public rushed to help.
In a second attack, just 30 minutes later, he approached a woman in Field Road. Carrying a plank of wood, he demanded her car, sat on her lap and attempted to start the engine. After beeping her horn, Nightingale fled the scene.
Earlier that day, Nightingale was also identified as a shoplifting suspect after attempting to steal clothes from a shop in Park Street in the town centre.
Nightingale was arrested five days after his crime spree and charged with three attempted thefts from shops, attempted theft of a motor vehicle and assaults with intent to commit robbery.
He was sentenced on October 19 at Wolverhampton Crown Court.
PC Jodie Allen, from force CID, said: “These women were put through terrifying ordeals but they bravely put up resistance and Nightingale was forced to flee empty-handed.
“We carried out quick time enquiries and were able to identify and then arrest Nightingale, who is now rightly behind bars and unable to strike again.”
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