Missing wheel hobbles escape plan of convicted Alberta truck thief

A man has been sentenced to 13 months in jail after he fled from the RCMP in central Alberta while driving a stolen vehicle with a missing front tire.

Gregory Whitford, a 37-year-old Nanton, Alta., resident, faced 13 charges following a chase in and around Sylvan Lake nearly two years ago.

He pleaded guilty on May 9 to four counts, including assaulting a police officer, flight from police, possession of stolen property over $5,000 and possessing identity documents belonging to another person.

Court heard that on July 6, 2016, police in Sylvan Lake spotted a pickup with a damaged front driver's-side wheel and then discovered the licence plate didn't match the vehicle.

The lone occupant sped away and tried to hit a Mountie, who managed to jump out of the way and was not injured.

Despite not having a front wheel, the driver managed to speed through Sylvan Lake and into an industrial park before he eventually stopped and was arrested.

Whitford was also fined $800 and faces a year of probation upon release.

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