John Horner sentenced to 12 months in prison

John Horner, 33, of St Ann’s Road, Rochdale, has been sentenced to 12 months in prison after he stole a car whilst he was drunk, as a passenger sat inside.

Horner, made off with Mohammed Zafar’s Toyota as he entered a takeaway on Manchester Road. He forced the keys out of Mrs Zafar’s hand before she jumped out of the car as he sped away from the scene.

He drove 20 miles before a police officer was alerted to the vehicle and a car chase took place.

When the police found the car, four others had joined Horner and he said he had not been driving at the time.

When he was interviewed by the police, he stated that he could not remember the incident as he was ‘blind drunk’ having attended a family member’s funeral.

Horner has previous convictions for reckless driving and several counts of driving whilst disqualified. He was sentenced at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court last week.