Man who hit three people with car found cowering under a bed

Footage captured the moment a prolific offender learnt ‘the game was up’ as police found him cowering under a bed.

Officers had been trying to trace Joseph Wicks for months after he hit three people with a car in the early hours of November 30 last year.

At the time, the 27-year-old was recklessly speeding around Colchester in a Fiat 500, which mounted the pavement and struck pedestrians outside a nightclub in Queen Street.

He fled the scene and abandoned the car in Wivenhoe Quay, but officers recovered his fingerprints from inside the vehicle.

Fortunately, none of the victims suffered serious injuries.

Wicks had already been identified driving aggressively down narrow roads and around the city centre that morning, heading the wrong way along one-way streets, narrowly missing members of the public, and ignoring red lights.

As well as the dangerous driving incident, Wicks was wanted for other serious offences, including a stalking investigation.

But while officers continued their efforts to trace and detain him, Wicks went on to commit further offences.

A campaign of stalking and harassment against a woman culminated in an incident on May 8 this year, as it was reported that Wicks attended the victim’s address that day.

He was shouting, swearing, and acting aggressively, banging on the front door and demanding entry before returning to his van.

When a man approached the parked vehicle and opened the passenger door to speak to Wicks about his behaviour, he reported seeing a metal baseball bat and what appeared to be a handgun.

Wicks left the area but continued to bombard the woman with phone calls and messages.

Due to the report of a potential firearm, specially trained armed officers from our Force Support Unit began enquiries at several addresses linked to Wicks.

The following day, his van was located, and the bat was recovered. No firearm was found.

Armed officers executed a warrant at an address in Colchester on May 11 and found multiple people inside the property, all of whom denied having seen Wicks.

However, after carrying out a thorough search, officers uncovered him hiding underneath an Ottoman bed.

Wicks was arrested and charged with a number of offences, including dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance, and failing to stop for police.

His other charges were three counts of assault by beating, three counts of attempting to cause actual bodily harm, stalking, possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, sending threatening communications, and criminal damage.

He admitted all of the charges except the imitation firearm offence, which he denied. That charge was left to lie on file by prosecutors.

Appearing for sentencing at Ipswich Crown Court on July 31, Wicks, of Braithwaite Drive, Colchester, was jailed for four years and six months and further disqualified from driving for two years and six months.

Inspector Tom Stokes, of our Force Support Unit, said: ‘In this case, officers were tasked with locating and arresting a man linked to a series of serious offences, including dangerous driving, which put members of the public at risk and a report involving what was believed to be a firearm.’

He added that officers must ‘plan carefully’ and ‘act decisively’ when information suggests a weapon may be involved.

Stokes went on to praise the ‘professionalism shown by the officers involved’, which resulted in Wicks’ arrest, despite his efforts to ‘conceal’ himself.

‘Their actions ensured a high-harm offender was brought before the courts and held accountable for his actions.

‘Much of the work carried out by armed officers happens out of the public eye, but it is built on extensive training, teamwork and a commitment to protecting communities across Essex.

‘We will continue to target those who pose the greatest risk and ensure they are brought to justice.’

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