A have-a-go hero who chased thieves trying to steal his motorcycle was jailed for 22 months for causing injury by dangerous driving when he ran the would-be burglars off the road. The dad-of-two was jailed for taking the law into his own hands but the career criminals who tried to burgle his home were spared prison.

The story of 34-year-old Adam White was told on Monday night’s episode of 24 Hours in Police Custody on Channel 4 TV.  Viewers saw Taylor Benford and Ryan Paul, both aged 25, receive suspended sentences for attempted burglary.

White spent his £50,000 life savings on legal fees and lost his job as an electrician. He also had to make make the incredibly sad decision to terminate his wife Lindsay’s pregnancy. A GoFundMe page called Give Adam White Justice has been set up to help the family, which has raised £154,000.

White said: “We were worried about the backlash of that programme being aired. But it has gone absolutely crazy. We just want to say thank you to everyone, the public, friends and family for the support, it has been absolutely overwhelming.

“It is going to help us pay off some of our debt, loans and credit cards and hopefully we can replace some of our savings as well, so thank you very much.”

The would-be burglars both have previous convictions including possession of an offensive weapon, theft, dangerous driving, criminal damage, shoplifting and drug dealing. They are suing White’s car insurer £1 million for their injuries. 

The pair targeted the home where White was with his wife and their two children, aged 10 and eight, after posing as buyers for a motorbike he had advertised for sale online. The criminals were armed with a crowbar and bolt cutters when they attempted the burglary in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, in 2019. But White spotted the two masked men as they attempted to break into the garage, and after chasing them off he got into his car in pursuit.

When he gave chase, the men sustained serious injuries after being thrown from the stolen motorbike they were riding. Injuries included a fractured skull, bleeding on the brain and broken bones.

White was arrested on the spot on suspicion of GBH. Benford and Paul were taken to hospital and then were interviewed by police. They later pleaded guilty at Luton Crown Court to attempted burglary and were given suspended sentences and 200 hours community service. 

White, who had no convictions prior to the incident, was tried by jury and jailed in February but released in September, and is now wearing an ankle tag.