A man from Warrington who stole a car with a vulnerable woman inside and drove through a residential estate at speeds of 70mph making threats to kill, has been jailed and banned from driving.
Daniel Riley, of Ulverston Avenue, Warrington, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday 6 July, where he was jailed for 26 months.
The sentencing comes after he pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving, threats to kill, criminal damage, possession of class B drugs and assaulting an emergency worker.
As well as a custodial sentence, the 39-year-old was also handed a two-year driving ban and must complete an extended driving test before he is allowed back on the roads.
The case against Riley began shortly before 11pm on Sunday 26 July 2025, when officers were called to reports of a disturbance in the Densham Avenue area of Warrington.
Upon arrival, the attending officers found Riley and another man stood outside of the address.
Riley told one of the officers that he had missed the disturbance that had taken place and that there was no need for their attendance. The other man told one of the officers that someone had come to his home and had driven off in his car, a Citroen C2, with a woman inside.
Luckily both had been returned to the scene, but the man refused to name who had taken the car. Officers remained on the scene to conduct urgent enquires, later uncovering that it was, in fact, Riley who taken the vehicle with the woman inside.
They were told that during the drive, in which the C2 exceeded speeds of 70mph in residential areas, Riley asked the woman if she wanted to die, saying he would “kill them both now”. The speed and manner of Riley’s driving left the woman fearing for her safety.
Based on the information provided to them, officers promptly arrested the 39-year-old.
Upon being escorted to a police van, Riley made constant denials of having any involvement in the incident, stating that he had had a drink and he would not have gotten behind the wheel. At this point he was searched, with officers finding a quantity of cannabis on his person.
Riley refused to be searched any further and became angry, threatening to harm the arresting officers and even tried to bite one of them. However, the three officers in attendance eventually neutralised the situation, calming Riley down and safely placing him in the police van.
In custody, Riley answered no comment to the majority of questions put to him but did admit to being in possession of cannabis and resisting arrest.
Sergeant Michael Hayes, of the Northern Area Investigation Team, said: “It was abundantly clear to the officers attending this incident that Riley’s intimidating presence at the scene left both of the victims involved feeling unable to fully disclose what had happened to them that evening.
“Sensing this urgency of the situation, they remained calm and were able to work with both victims, who were understandably shaken up following their ordeal, and were able to attain statements from them that were vital in Riley’s arrest and his subsequent conviction. I would like to thank them for the utmost professionalism they displayed throughout.
“As for Riley, he will be spending the next two years behind bars as a direct consequence of his actions. Not only did he endanger the life of the victim in the car at the time of the incident, but himself and other road users and pedestrians – it is a miracle that no one was harmed during his reckless rampage.
“As a further precaution, he will be made the subject of a two-year driving ban that will come into force upon his release from prison and will be the subject of an extended driving test before he is allowed to get back behind the wheel of a car.”
