Shocking footage shows violent offender who preyed on elderly lead police on high-speed chase

Ellen Manning

Dramatic footage showing a driver leading police on a high-speed chase after he went on a violent rampage, attacking pensioners in their homes has been released.

Thomas Cahill stole a Fiat 500 and fled police in the Quito area of Birmingham, weaving in and out of traffic, driving the wrong way up residential streets and even along footpaths.

He was eventually arrested after the car shed a tyre and he tried to flee on foot.

Cahill was wanted for a string of violent offences at the time, including burglary, robbery and aggravated vehicle taking, a court heard.

Police cars and a helicopter track and chase Thomas Cahill driving a stolen Fiat 500. A career criminal who was wanted for a string of violent offences has been jailed after our traffic officers pursued him through Birmingham. See SWNS story SWMDchase. Last year police asked for the public’s help to track down Thomas Cahill who was wanted over a number of offences across the West Midlands ranging from burglary, distraction burglary and robbery as well as aggravated vehicle taking. During his spree, a 78-year-old woman suffered a broken hip after being dragged to the ground as he snatched her bag in a Harborne street. He also broke into the home of another 78-year-old woman, cutting her phone line so she couldn’t call for help, where he stole bank cards and cash. A woman in Edgbaston was stabbed multiple times to her hand as he tried to cut the strap of her handbag as she was walking down the street. And in a further callous move, he tricked his way into the house of a vulnerable man who had previously suffered from a stroke by asking for a glass of water. He stole his bank cards and later made purchases in a local supermarket.
Shocking dashcam footage shows a high-speed chase by police of Thomas Cahill, who was driving a stolen Fiat 500. (SWNS) (SWNS)

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His violent spree left one 78-year-old woman with a broken hip after being dragged to the ground as he snatched her bag in the street.

He also broke into the home of another 78-year-old woman, cutting her phone line so she couldn’t call for help, while he stole bank cards and cash.

Thomas Cahill. A career criminal who was wanted for a string of violent offences has been jailed after our traffic officers pursued him through Birmingham. See SWNS story SWMDchase. Last year police asked for the public’s help to track down Thomas Cahill who was wanted over a number of offences across the West Midlands ranging from burglary, distraction burglary and robbery as well as aggravated vehicle taking. During his spree, a 78-year-old woman suffered a broken hip after being dragged to the ground as he snatched her bag in a Harborne street. He also broke into the home of another 78-year-old woman, cutting her phone line so she couldn’t call for help, where he stole bank cards and cash. A woman in Edgbaston was stabbed multiple times to her hand as he tried to cut the strap of her handbag as she was walking down the street. And in a further callous move, he tricked his way into the house of a vulnerable man who had previously suffered from a stroke by asking for a glass of water. He stole his bank cards and later made purchases in a local supermarket.
Cahill has been jailed for 12 years for a string of violent offences before stealing the car and leading police on a high-speed chase. (SWNS) (SWNS)

Another female victim was stabbed multiple times in her hand as he tried to cut her handbag strap as she walked down the street.

Cahill also tricked his way into the home of a vulnerable man who had previously suffered a stroke by asking for a glass of water, then stole his bank cards.

The homeowner's son spotted Cahill leaving the house and recognised him as having previously done roofing work at the property so was later able to identify him.

Police cars and a helicopter track and chase Thomas Cahill driving a stolen Fiat 500. A career criminal who was wanted for a string of violent offences has been jailed after our traffic officers pursued him through Birmingham. See SWNS story SWMDchase. Last year police asked for the public’s help to track down Thomas Cahill who was wanted over a number of offences across the West Midlands ranging from burglary, distraction burglary and robbery as well as aggravated vehicle taking. During his spree, a 78-year-old woman suffered a broken hip after being dragged to the ground as he snatched her bag in a Harborne street. He also broke into the home of another 78-year-old woman, cutting her phone line so she couldn’t call for help, where he stole bank cards and cash. A woman in Edgbaston was stabbed multiple times to her hand as he tried to cut the strap of her handbag as she was walking down the street. And in a further callous move, he tricked his way into the house of a vulnerable man who had previously suffered from a stroke by asking for a glass of water. He stole his bank cards and later made purchases in a local supermarket.
Cahill drove the wrong way down roads, on footpaths and up grass verges to try to evade police. (SWNS) (SWNS)

A day later, Cahill stole the Fiat 500 from a property in Wolverhampton and police officers were able to trace the car due to the in-car tracker.

The 42-year-old, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to five burglaries, three robberies an attempted robbery and aggravated vehicle taking.

He was sentenced to 12 years in prison at Birmingham Crown Court.

Detective Mark Timmins, of West Midlands Police, said: "Thomas Cahill is a really violent offender and we are so pleased to see him behind bars for this time.

"He preyed on the vulnerable and took advantage of them.

"Cahill drove a battered Ford Focus to commit most of these offences, so we were quickly able to identify him as being involved in these malicious crimes.

"Being of a victim of burglary and robbery can be really difficult and the thought of someone being in your home can take a long time to recover from, so I hope this sentence will also provide comfort to Cahill’s victims."

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