A CAR thief who abandoned a stolen Land Rover on a railway crossing, causing a train crash, has been jailed for 18 months.

Brian Kirby, 27, was also banned from driving for five years by a judge at Chichester Crown Court.

More than 50 passengers and the train crew escaped unhurt when the two-carriage Cardiff to Brighton sprinter hit the Land Rover on the Toddington Lane level crossing near Littlehampton in January.

It had been abandoned by Kirby on the track during a police chase as the train approached at 60mph.

Brakes

Driver Alan Hicks slammed on the brakes when he saw it ahead and pushed a trainee driver out of the cab to brace themselves for the impact.

Sue Lumbard, prosecuting, told the court train operators Wales and West were left with a £100,000 bill for damage to the train.

It also cost another £100,000 in disrupted services, £12,000 to repair the crossing and the £2,500 Land Rover stolen from Arundel station car park was reduced to a wreck.

Kirby, of Clun Road, Littlehampton, admitted a series of charges including endangering the safety of people on the railway, aggravated vehicle taking, three charges of driving while disqualified and failing to surrender to bail.

The court was told he was banned from driving at the time when police saw him at the wheel of the Land Rover and tried to stop the vehicle using flashing lights and sirens.

Kirby was also wanted on a warrant after failing to turn up for a court appearance to face other charges of driving while disqualified.

Police were trying to stop the Land Rover when it approached the crossing as the warning lights were on red.

The vehicle was left partially across the track by Kirby, who fled on foot but was arrested minutes later.

He claimed he tried to stop at the crossing by braking but the Land Rover stalled and lurched forward.

Stephen Collett, defending, said when Kirby saw the train coming he realised he did not have time to restart the engine.

He said: "The defendant did not go out that day intending to commit any offences, let alone one as grave as this."

Judge Eric Wrintmore told Kirby he had shown a blatant disregard for the driving laws time and time again.

He added: "This time you have seriously endangered the lives and safety of a train driver and his passengers and as a result left something like £250,000 in damages.

"It is all too serious for anything but a custodial sentence," he said.

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