Drunken joyrider crashes bus in rampage (From Gazette)

Drunken joyrider crashes bus in rampage

9:00am Wednesday 1st February 2012 in Local News By Adam Cornell

A DRUNKEN joyrider crashed an electric buggy and a bus during a late-night rampage around Colchester.

Police were called after one of Colchester Council’s gardening buggies was stolen from Castle Park and used to smash through several gates before being dumped.

Minutes later, a bus was stolen from the temporary station in Queen Street and crashed into railings.

A man, 18, from Colchester, has been arrested on suspicion of a number of motoring offences, including drink-driving. He has been bailed without charge until March.

The drama started on Sunday at 1.30am.

Thieves broke into Castle Park and took a buggy – ramming into four sets of gates in the park.

Gates in Roman Road were so badly damaged they have since been removed.

It is thought the thieves may have made their escape along Roman Road, East Hill and Priory Street.

A spokesman for Colchester Council said: “We can confirm there was a break-in at Castle Park over the weekend, where property was stolen and several gates were significantly damaged.

“Colchester Council is cooperating fully with Essex Police to do everything possible to ensure the perpetrators are caught.”

Police found the buggy abandoned in Priory Street two hours later when they were called to Queen Street.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “A bus was stopped in Queen Street being driven in an erratic manner. It had struck nearby railings.

“The driver was arrested on suspicion of a number of motoring offences.”

Usman M, manager of Sahara Grill, Queen Street, said: “I am really surprised someone stole a bus.

“We were busy at the time so didn’t notice anything but I heard someone smashed the railing. We thought it was a car, we didn’t think it would be a bus.”

It is the second time in five months a bus has been stolen from the temporary station in Queen Street.

In Septmber two men stole a bus and crashed it causing about £4,000 bdamage to the bus, other Buses and a set of railings.

One has been jailed and one has not been sentenced yet.

A spokesman for First Buses said a review of security would be carried out following the latest incident and the company will help the police with any investigations.