81-year-old Ian Hemmens resorted to being a gang driver to overcome loneliness
The senior was targeted as the perfect escape driver due to the way he looked, he wouldn’t be the subject of suspicion.
First reported by The Guardian was the case of Chichester, West Sussex resident Ian Hemmens who was a former burger van worker turned gang escape driver because he was feeling alone.
Mark Kessler, who was defending the case found the situation unusual. “It’s unusual to find a man of Mr. Hemmes’ background in court at his age for a matter of this nature.” He also admitted that the retired man’s isolation was what led to his involvement.
Hemmens, the defendant, was subject to nine months of jail time in 2019 for being found guilty of helping a man named Mahamud Sami, who was an alleged drug dealer.
Portsmouth crown court was told that Hemmens, who showed no emotion during trial under judge Roger Heatherington, that he was willing to act as an accomplice just so he would have someone to talk to, as the 81-year-old loved carrying conversations.
Driving his green Citroën C3, Hemmens served as the driver for the alleged drug dealer on March 10, 2019.
