Overview
- Darren Coffey, 41, was sentenced Wednesday at Wolverhampton Crown Court to 18 months in prison, with at least 40% to be served before release on licence.
- He was disqualified from driving for three years and nine months and must pass an extended test before getting back behind the wheel.
- On November 8, 2025, he stole a 24‑tonne Caterpillar D6 worth about £385,000 from Staffordshire, removed its tracker, and drove it through Wolverhampton for nearly three hours.
- The rampage ended after he hit a Royal Mail trailer placed across the road as a police roadblock, following senior authorisation to block his route.
- Court reports said he was under the influence of drink and drugs, had threatened to burn down a Willenhall garage during a dispute, drove on the wrong side of roads, reversed toward police cars, and caused just over £8,000 in damage as multiple police units worked to contain the risk.