Manea shop raider jailed after accomplice dies in crash

A man who tried to rob a village shop and then caused a car crash which killed his accomplice has been jailed.

Sonny Loveridge, 26, of Stretham Station Road, Wilburton, Cambridgeshire, was sentenced to 11 years and eight months at Peterborough Crown Court on Friday.

His accomplice John Hayden, 36, was thrown from the car and died at the scene.

Det Con Pete Wise said that Loveridge, who entered guilty pleas, was a "dangerous individual".

Police said Loveridge had driven a silver Ford Focus to a One Stop, in Park Road, Manea, Cambridgeshire, on 22 October 2023.

Officers said Mr Hayden walked into the shop holding a metal bar.

The shopkeeper locked himself and his mother behind the tills, police said, denying the would-be robber access to the money.

Hayden left empty-handed and the victims were uninjured but shaken.

Loveridge drove off with Hayden but crashed the Focus into a ditch in Byall Fen Drove, near Chatteris.

Loveridge was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Police said Loveridge was found to be over the legal drink-drive limit - and the Focus had cloned number plates.

He admitted attempted robbery and causing death by driving without due care and attention while unfit through drink.

Loveridge was banned from driving for 15 years and 10 months.

Police said he also admitted a robbery at a shop in Wickhambrook, Suffolk, in February 2023.

"Loveridge is a dangerous individual who had already carried out a violent robbery before attempting to rob the shop in Manea," said Det Con Wise.

"Not only this, he drove after drinking and killed his accomplice, so I'm glad he's been jailed for a long time."