Car thieves drag driver holding door along road

Published on Friday 30 October 2009 08:59

A MOTORIST today described the terrifying ordeal of being dragged along the road while hanging on to the door of his stolen car.

Stephen Hoggan, 36, was about to put his two-year-old son Matthew into the car when the thieves struck in Newington at around 5.30pm on Wednesday.

The library assistant from Livingston had only left his silver Kia Sedona unlocked for a few moments with the keys in the ignition while picking up his son from his aunt's house in Lutton Place.

He chased after the thieves when it stopped at traffic lights and was punched in the face after challenging the driver. But he clutched on to the car along Dalkeith Road past the Commonwealth Pool and towards Holyrood Park as it accelerated away. He finally fell off on to the road at Pollock Halls, suffering bruising and cuts to his arms, body and legs.

Mr Hoggan said: "I normally put my son in first and then put his buggy in the boot, but this time I put the buggy in first and turned around to get Matthew when these two young neds jumped in the car and sped off.

"It doesn't bear thinking about what would have happened if they'd sped off with Matthew in the car."

He said after catching up with the car he opened the door and tried to pull the driver out.

"I tried to bluff him by telling him that my kid was in the back, and you could see the panic on his face when I said that.

"He looked in the back seat and realised no-one was there, and then turned around and punched me in the face several times.

"He then sped off from the lights with me still holding on to the car, and kept shouting 'let go!'. I told him I wasn't letting go and he started speeding up and then breaking hard to shake me off.

"Eventually, he broke really hard as we passed Pollock Halls and I bounced off the door and hit ground."

Mr Hoggan was treated on the scene by paramedics who offered to take him to hospital but he declined.

He said: "Nothing was broken so I decided to go back to my aunt's because all I wanted to do was see my son.

"I went to the hospital yesterday to get my injuries seen to and everything seems fine, but I'm still in a lot of pain."

The suspect driver is described as white, 19 to 23-years-old, short dark hair, a thin face, and wearing a khaki jacket. There is no description of the other suspect available.

A police spokesman said: "While the victim did not require hospital treatment, he could have suffered serious injury or worse, and we are keen for any information that can help us identify the two suspects.

"Dalkeith Road and the surrounding streets were busy with pedestrians yesterday evening, and although we have traced a number of witnesses, we are still keen for anyone else who saw the incident take place to come forward.

"We are also keen to speak to anyone who saw the silver Kia Sedona being driven at speed through Holyrood Park after the incident happened.

"Anyone who has any other information that can assist our enquiries should also get in touch as a matter of urgency."

Anyone with any information should contact police on 0131-311 3131, or Crimestoppers on 0800-555 111.