Darren Coffey was on his way to ‘settle a dispute’ in the stolen Caterpillar D6
16:49, 30 Apr 2026Updated 17:19, 30 Apr 2026
‘Stolen’ bulldozer taken on rampage through Wolverhampton city centre (c) Charlene Harris
A man who went on a three-hour rampage through Wolverhampton in a stolen 24-tonne bulldozer has been jailed.
Darren Coffey stole the Caterpillar D6 in Staffordshire on November 8 last year and damaged street signs and road surfaces as he drove it through city streets.
The 41-year-old, who was in possession of two petrol cans, was making his way to Willenhall to ‘settle a dispute’.
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Coffey, of Harborne Park Road, Birmingham, called into the control room and said he was going to burn down a property on New Road, Willenhall.
West Midlands Police’s dogs and drone units were joined by response and traffic officers as they tried to stop Coffey.
The National Police Air Service also provided an ‘eye in the sky’ and tracked the bulldozer from the air.
Darren Coffey’s movements were tracked by the ‘eye in the sky’
A HGV was used to block the carriageway in Moseley Village, Wolverhampton, but Coffey hit the lorry and forced his way through the ‘static road block’ and onto the wrong side of the carriageway.
Coffey also reversed the machine at speed towards numerous police cars, but officers managed to move out of the way.
Nearly three hours after police were first alerted to the incident, Coffey was arrested as he brought the machine to a stop at 8.15pm.
‘Stolen’ bulldozer taken on rampage through Wolverhampton city centre (c) Charlene Harris
He pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle dangerously, failing to stop, no insurance, no license and threat to damage or destroy property during an appearance at Wolverhampton Crown Court on April 29.
Additionally, Coffey admitted two counts of criminal damage, drink driving, and aggravated vehicle taking and vehicle damage under £5,000.
Coffey was jailed for 18 months and banned from driving for three years and nine months.
Darren Coffey stole a bulldozer and drove it through the streets of Wolverhampton
Following the sentencing, PC Rodgers, of West Midlands Police, said: “Coffey’s actions back in November put innocent members of the public at risk of serious harm and caused a large amount of damage to street furniture and roads.
“This incident saw teams from across the force work together alongside our colleagues from NPAS to try to bring Coffey’s dangerous actions to a stop.
“Thankfully after three hours the incident came to an end, and officers took him into custody.
“But this whole incident placed a lot of people at risk, so I hope that this sentence and time in prison will give him some time to think about the sheer devastation that could have happened due to his actions on that night.”