A prolific car thief who led police on two high-speed chases through Shrewsbury has been jailed for three years after McDonald’s receipts and CCTV footage from the fast-food chain exposed his identity. Callum Roberts, 20, drove at speeds exceeding 100mph on the wrong side of a dual carriageway and narrowly avoided a head-on collision with an HGV during his crime spree.
Roberts, of HMP Brinsford near Wolverhampton, was sentenced at Shrewsbury Crown Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle taking, fraud by false representation and two counts of driving whilst disqualified. He received an additional driving ban of four years and two months, which will commence upon his release from prison.
The court heard how Roberts‘ criminal activities began just two weeks after being released from custody for previous vehicle theft offences. His downfall came through an unlikely source – his apparent fondness for McDonald’s meals, which provided crucial evidence linking him to both stolen vehicles.
First Theft Foiled by Fast Food
Roberts’ crime spree began on 15 February when he stole a silver BMW from a car park near St Julian’s Crescent in Shrewsbury at approximately 10pm. The vehicle’s owner had parked at 7.30pm to meet friends at a pub, returning to find his car missing.
Two hours later, traffic officers spotted the stolen BMW and initiated a pursuit. Roberts accelerated through 30mph residential zones at speeds reaching 70mph, narrowly avoiding a collision with another vehicle before officers lost sight of him.
The BMW was later discovered abandoned in Roden, a remote area of Shrewsbury. During their search of the vehicle, officers made a crucial discovery – a McDonald’s bag containing a receipt from the Meole Brace branch, timestamped shortly after the theft.
Following CCTV enquiries, officers were able to establish Roberts as the driver of the stolen vehicle,” Detective Constable Tom Clough of Shropshire’s Serious Acquisitive Crime Team confirmed. The footage clearly showed Roberts at the restaurant drive-through in the stolen BMW.
Second Crime, Same Mistake
Undeterred by his narrow escape, Roberts struck again two weeks later. On 1 March, car keys belonging to a Citroen C3 Aircross were stolen from a property on Brougham Square in Shrewsbury. The following night, the thief returned to take the vehicle itself.
On 5 March, officers spotted the stolen Citroen in north Shrewsbury. When Roberts failed to stop, another high-speed pursuit ensued through residential areas, with the vehicle reaching 60mph in 20mph zones.
The chase escalated dramatically when Roberts drove the wrong way around a roundabout before joining the A5 dual carriageway on the wrong side. The vehicle reached speeds of 100mph, narrowly avoiding a HGV,” the court was told. Roberts eventually stopped in a layby and attempted to flee on foot but was quickly apprehended by officers.
Digital Trail Seals Fate
During the investigation, detectives uncovered another damning piece of evidence. Roberts had fraudulently used bank cards found within the stolen Citroen to purchase another McDonald’s meal shortly after the vehicle was reported stolen.
“Perhaps it was the second McDonald’s that slowed him down,” one source close to the investigation observed, noting the irony of Roberts’ capture.
The combination of CCTV footage, receipts, and fraudulent card use provided overwhelming evidence against Roberts, who had no choice but to plead guilty to all charges in May 2025.
Judge Delivers Stern Warning
In sentencing Roberts to three years imprisonment, the judge highlighted the extreme danger posed by his actions. The court heard how Roberts had shown complete disregard for public safety during both pursuits.
“Not only was he driving stolen vehicles, Roberts was aware that he was driving whilst disqualified,” Detective Constable Clough stated. His willingness to engage in such risk-taking to evade capture on two separate occasions is something that caused officers great concern.”
The officer emphasised the collaborative nature of the investigation: “This was a team effort and if it wasn’t for the commitment of my team as well as our roads policing officers, we couldn’t have achieved such a good result in such a short space of time.
Victims Left Counting Cost
Beyond the immediate danger to public safety, Roberts’ actions caused significant distress to his victims. The owners of both vehicles faced the inconvenience and emotional impact of having their property stolen, with one victim discovering drug paraphernalia and blood in their recovered vehicle.
The financial cost was also substantial, with damage to the vehicles and the resources required for two police pursuits placing additional strain on public services.
Warning to Other Offenders
Detective Constable Clough hopes the sentence will serve as a deterrent to others: “I hope yesterday’s sentence serves as a warning that we will work tirelessly to ensure those who cause distress to the public by taking what does not belong to them, as well as putting lives at risk by their actions, are put before the courts.
He added: “I am pleased with the sentence at court, which I hope gives the victims some sort of closure, as well as time for Roberts to reflect on how dangerous his actions were, which could have had tragic consequences given the lack of care for the safety of others and himself.
The case highlights how modern policing techniques, including CCTV analysis and digital transaction tracking, can provide crucial evidence even when criminals believe they have evaded capture. For Roberts, his appetite for fast food proved to be his undoing, transforming routine McDonald’s visits into the key evidence that secured his conviction.
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