Yob who attacked granddad in Sheffield carjacking jailed for just 18 months

Ian Jones was the victim of a carjacking, and sustained injuries from the event. Ian is pictured with his wife Kath. Picture: Andrew Roe

Granddad Ian Jones, aged 64, watched in horror as a carjacker sped away in his Range Rover after the June attack – still with his two-year-old grandson inside the vehicle.

Following the broad-daylight robbery on Burngreave Road, police launched an investigation

Injuries sustained by Ian Jones, who was the victim of a carjacking. Picture: Andrew Roe

Last week, Ryan Wood, 35, of Verdon Street, Burngreave, pleaded guilty to robbery, kidnapping, dangerous driving and theft at Sheffield Crown Court.

He was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in jail, of which he will serve half.

Ian has now slammed the ‘ludicrously lenient’ jail term handed to Wood, claiming he has life-long injuries and experiences flashbacks after the attack.

He said: “I am appalled that somebody so dangerous will be back on the streets in 18 months.

Ian Jones was the victim of a carjacking, and sustained injuries from the event. Picture: Andrew Roe

“Doctors say I’ll never recover from some of my injuries and I still get flashbacks. Watching my grandson being driven away like that was truly terrifying.

“I don’t know much about the law, but anybody with an ounce of common sense would say he should have been jailed for longer.

“What message does this sentence send? It’s ludicrously lenient.”

Ian was driving along Burngreave Road, towards the Wicker, at around 7.45am one day in June after picking-up his grandson.

As he approached the traffic lights at Spital Hill, Ian said a woman was blocking the road ‘in fairy land, on drugs’ forcing him to get out of his vehicle.

But no sooner was his back turned, Ian saw his vehiecle being driven away.

He said: “I was worried sick for my grandson. That’s the only thing I was thinking about. I ran after my car and a van driver, who had seen what was happening, drove into the road to block his path. But he forced his way through.”

Ian said he was trapped between the van and his Range Rover for a brief time, causing him injuries.

He said: “I’m lying in the middle of the road, black and blue, in real pain watching my car being driven off with my grandson in the back. I’ve never been so scared.”

Ian phoned 999 immediately, fearing the worst for his grandson, but the robber, perhaps after spotting Ian’s grandson, ditched the vehicle and made his escape on foot.

Ian, who lives with wife Kath, also 64, said: “The main thing is that my grandson is safe and I feel lucky for that.”