Video: Notts TV’s Jake Meskell spoke to Darren Pike about the incident
A Nottingham tram driver who was on his way to work told his story of the moment three youths on mopeds tried to ‘carjack’ him but he ‘fended them off’.
Darren Pike, 44, from Nottingham was in his wife’s car when the attempted robbery happened at the junction of Western Boulevard and Aspley Lane in Aspley at around 5.20am on Saturday (November 4).
He said: “I came on Western Boulevard from Crown Island and there were three lads on a moped who were zig-zagging in and out of lanes and trying to block me in.
“I had two guys on the left side that opened the door and one guy on the driver’s side who opened the door too.
“Both doors opened at the same time and the two on my left were shouting at me to get out the car, threatening all sorts of violence.
“I unclipped the seatbelt, took the keys out the ignition and put them in my pocket.
“There was no way they were taking the car – then I saw the guy on the right, who had not been shouting a lot, coming towards me and I went to kick him.
“I’m not well designed for this car so I just sort of hit the steering wheel and got him away.
“I raised my fist and said to him, you’re going to get hurt if you come near me.
“I got out the car, he’s come for me and I just fended him off with my arms.
“There was another car that came down the road which I think spooked them and they ran off.
“It could have been somebody like a little old lady or a young teenage girl and it doesn’t bear thinking about what could happen if it happened to someone like that.
“My advice would be if you are driving a short or a long journey, just lock the car doors down.
“I’ve started doing it as it has been a real wake-up call for me.”
Notts Police are investigating a similar incident believed to be linked which happened around 15 minutes earlier in Bobbers Mill.
Three people on a moped tried the door handles and kicked another car but the doors were locked and the driver drove off.
A spokesperson for the force said: “We have had two incidents in one morning.
“As always, we would urge people to be vigilant and be aware of their surroundings.
“Getting into the habit of locking your car doors when you are driving can give you extra piece of mind.”
