One arrested following trail of carnage through Bideford in stolen taxi

A trail of chaos was left after a taxi alleged to have been stolen careered through Bideford before crashing on the Torrington road on Sunday afternoon (October 26).

Police have arrested a man in his 30s from the Bideford area but continue to search for a second suspect and have appealed for witnesses or CCTV or dashcam footage of the chaotic incident.

Police were called at around 4.15pm on Sunday following a report of a white Ford Mondeo taxi being stolen in the Geneva Court area of Bideford.

It was reported a taxi driver had picked up two men from Westward Ho! and took them to Geneva Court.

Both then went inside a property after promising payment but never returned. The driver knocked on the door and was threatened.

His vehicle was then stolen and driven away at speed, colliding with a number of other vehicles as it left the scene.

The stolen vehicle was involved in a collision involving two other vehicles a short time later, before Rakeham Hill on the A386 between Bideford and Torrington.

Police attended and arrested a man in his 30s from the Bideford area on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle, dangerous driving and drink driving. He remains in custody at this time.

Enquiries to locate a second suspect who is believed to have been travelling in the stolen taxi at the time remain ongoing.

Anyone who saw the taxi during any of the events, or who has relevant dash-cam, CCTV or mobile phone footage is asked to call the police on 101 get in touch via the Devon and Cornwall Police website, quoting 50250277004.

A Facebook statement posted by Bideford-based Number 6 Taxis yesterday said: “We’re deeply saddened to share that one of our drivers was involved in an incident earlier today, which resulted in their vehicle being stolen and later involved in a collision. Thankfully, our driver is now safe and we’re co-operating fully with the police as they investigate.

“We want to make it absolutely clear — this was a criminal act against our driver, not a reflection of our team or how our business is run. The safety of our drivers and passengers has always been, and will continue to be, our top priority.”

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