Dramatic moment BBC Radio 1 grime star Saphan ‘Safone’ Robinson is chased by police in Audi after it was linked to several shootings – before armed cops corner gunman passenger and find getaway driver hiding in shed
- Officers in Birmingham set off in pursuit of an Audi A6 with Robinson inside
- Driver, Jonathon McCann, 25, accelerated away and led officers on a chase
- Robinson arrested with third man, Reiss Clarke, while McCann found in shed
- Other two men were convicted but Robinson found to have no case to answer
This is the dramatic moment armed police officers chased BBC Radio 1 grime star Saphan ‘Safone; Robinson in an Audi linked to several shootings.
Officers in Birmingham found the Audi A6 hired by and containing Robinson, 29, after tracking it to a street near the Rep theatre in the city centre at 4pm on September 19, 2019.
When they spotted the police, driver Jonathon McCann, 25, accelerated away, prompting the high-speed pursuit.
Robinson, McCann and a third man, Reiss Clarke, 26, led police through the busy city streets before winding down the window and throwing a handgun onto the pavement.
After cornering the car they then chased the three men on foot, surrounded gunman Clarke and Robinson.
McCann was found hiding in a garden shed by officers.
Officers in Birmingham set off in pursuit of an Audi A6 hired by and containing BBC Radio 1 grime star Saphan ‘Safone’ Robinson after the vehicle was linked to several shootings. It is seen here stopping beside the side of the road as the criminals leap out
The chase continued for a mile after officers came across the Audi with the car mounting a central reservation and crossing a dual carriageway in a desperate bid to outrun police.
The suspects finally abandoned the car and fled on foot.
Robinson, who has been shot twice before, was arrested in parkland with Clarke after an officer threatened them with a Taser.
McCann, the driver, was found hiding in a garden shed nearby.
Examinations of the gun revealed it was a loaded revolver with four bullets in the chamber and had been previously fired.
Clarke, of Bartley Green, admitted possession of the firearm and was jailed for eight years and two months.
McCann, of Northfield, admitted dangerous driving and was jailed for one year and banned from driving for 18 months.
Robinson was originally charged with possession of a firearm but he was later found to have no case to answer.
Robinson, McCann and a third man, Reiss Clarke, 26, led police through the busy city streets before winding down the window and throwing a handgun onto the pavement. Robinson and Clarke were arrested in a park (left) and McCann in a nearby shed (right)
Clarke, of Bartley Green, admitted possession of the firearm and was jailed for eight years and two months. He is seen here being arrested
Robinson is regularly played on Radio 1 and he has performed at sell-out shows across the country
McCann, (left) admitted to dangerous driving, while Clarke, 26, (right) admitted possession of the firearm and was jailed for eight years and two months
Examinations of the gun revealed it was a loaded revolver with four bullets in the chamber and had been previously fired
He has admitted possessing an imitation firearm but has yet to be sentenced.
Detective Inspector Jim Church, from West Midlands Police CID, said: ‘This was great work by our officers who showed real determination to stop this car, knowing that those in it may be linked to gun crime.
‘The video shows their determination and professionalism in arresting the men, and as a result we’ve taken a gun off the streets and put a dangerous offender behind bars.’
Robinson was previously shot twice in the space of the year with the Grime star shot in the back of the leg in the Quinton area of Birmingham in May 2018.
He was shot in the chest by a gunman in the same area of the city on July 9 a year before.