Moment bulldozer rampages through city centre in two-and-a-half-hour police chase

“Oh s**t he’s gone. Look at the lorry. The coppers can’t stop it happening”

A man has been arrested on suspicion of drink-driving following a city centre rampage with a suspected stolen bulldozer.

The 24-tonne earthmover, believed to have been stolen from a Staffordshire quarry, was driven through Wolverhampton city centre and ended up in Willenhall on the opposite side of the city on Saturday night (November 8).

Footage shared online shows the construction vehicle being driven along Willenhall Road towards the Cleveland Arms pub. Charlene Harris filmed the incident and provided a running commentary as it unfolded.

She had been at the Merry Boys Inn pub and had stepped outside for a cigarette when the bulldozer came hurtling down Willenhall Road.

A lorry had been parked across the road in an apparent attempt to stop the bulldozer in its tracks.

But, in her commentary, Charlene said: “Gonna go through him. He’s gone through the bush. He’s moving the wagon.

“Here he comes, here he comes, here he comes.”

She screams and laughs and continues: “He’s stole this bulldozer. Watch the cars, the cars!

“Oh s**t he’s gone. Look at the lorry. The coppers can’t stop it happening.

“They tried with a big ****ing wagon and they can’t even do it with that. It bulldozed straight through it.”

A Royal Mail lorry had been parked across the road, but the bulldozer pushes it out of the way as the driver goes on the wrong side of the road, reports Birmingham Live.

The driver then crosses the road to join the correct carriageway and heads towards Willenhall.

West Midlands Police said they were alerted to the incident shortly before 5.40pm.

Officers made attempts to stop the vehicle which tore up road surfaces and also damaged ‘street furniture’ like metal barriers.

The vehicle went through Wolverhampton city centre along Bridgnorth Road, Compton Road West, and onto the A4150 dual carriageway.

It eventually came to a stop on New Road in Willenhall at 8.15pm, after the two-and-a-half hour rampage.

Now a 41-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of a string of offences including drink-driving, dangerous driving, theft and using threatening or abuse language.

A spokesperson for West Midlands Police said: “We’ve arrested a man after a 24-tonne earthmover was stolen and driven through Wolverhampton city centre.

“Officers were made aware of reports that an earthmover had been stolen from an address in Staffordshire, on Saturday (November 8).

“Crossing the border into Wolverhampton officers were alerted just before 5.40pm and attempted to stop the construction vehicle as it continued to damage road surfaces and street furniture.”

The statement continues: “Making its way through the city centre the machine drove through Bridgnorth Road, Compton Road West, and even onto the A4150 dual carriageway.

“The earthmover eventually came to stop on New Road, Willenhall at 8.15pm.

“A man, aged 41, was arrested on suspicion of drink driving, dangerous driving, threat to damage or destroy property, theft, fail to stop, take a conveyance (not a motor vehicle) without consent and using threatening, abusive or insulting words and behaviour to cause harassment.

“He remains in custody while our enquiries continue.”