Man jailed for ramming stolen tractor into Middlesbrough home

Nathan Blagg was sentenced to seven years and two months in prison after admitting offences including aggravated vehicle taking and criminal damage for deliberately driving a stolen tractor and hay baler into a house in Middlesbrough, Teesside Crown Court heard. He was also banned from driving for seven years. The ramming took place in May. Blagg, 28, had stolen the Massey Ferguson tractor and baler from farmer Ian Tate near Kirklevington, North Yorkshire, and driven them about nine miles to the three-bedroom terraced house on Priory Road, which was linked to Luke Lancaster, a rival with whom Blagg had been feuding. The house was empty at the time. Judge Paul Reid said the property essentially had to be rebuilt. The court heard the tractor required £56,000 in repairs and the baler, which had cost £30,000, was written off. Reid said the tractor came close to breaking through a party wall adjoining a neighbouring home. A detective chief inspector said the damage led occupants of nearby properties to evacuate for safety, and that Blagg did not know whether anyone was inside the targeted house or neighbouring homes.