Moment man goes on rampage with Army truck, destroying police vehicles

Moment man goes on rampage with a US Army truck, driving at his partner’s home before destroying four police vehicles and damaging multiple cars following domestic bust-up

• Geoffrey Marshall, 41, went on a ‘reign of terror’ in Norton Fitzwarren
• He drove two-and-half-tonne truck through Avon and Somerset Police roadblock

A man went on a ‘reign of terror’ with a US Army truck, driving at his partner’s home before smashing into four police vehicles and damaging multiple cars following a domestic bust-up, a court has heard.  

Geoffrey Marshall drove the two-and-half tonne truck into his partner Kathryn Marshall Lam’s home in Norton Fitzwarren after the couple argued over text messages she had found on his phone. 

Ms Lam’s car was also destroyed during the rampage. 

Marshall, 41, then went on a ‘reign of terror’, driving the green flatbed truck through a roadblock, destroying four Avon and Somerset Police vehicles and damaging many other cars parked nearby. 

Marshall was only arrested after police negotiators persuaded him not to jump from a bridge over the M5 motorway, North Somerset Magistrates’ Court heard. 

Geoffrey Marshall, 41, drove a two-and-half tonne US Army truck into his partner Kathryn Marshall Lam’s home in Norton Fitzwarren

Marshall went on a ‘reign of terror’, driving the green flatbed truck through a roadblock, destroying four Avon and Somerset Police vehicles

The incident began on the afternoon of Sunday September 10 with an argument between Marshall and Ms Lam at their home in Norton Fitzwarren, near Taunton, over text messages she found on his mobile phone. 

READ MORE: Shocking moment Army truck ploughs through a police roadblock in Somerset

Paul Kelly, prosecuting, said that, fearing for her safety, Ms Marshall Lam left the property and called the police. 

When officers arrived at their home in Station Road, they found the defendant already behind the wheel of the 1958 M35 truck. 

‘They tried to reason with the defendant through the window and asked him to get out of that large vehicle safely to talk to him about the allegation against him,’ Mr Kelly said. 

‘These negotiations have failed and, instead of engaging with the police, this defendant has decided to start driving the vehicle. 

‘He has driven the vehicle into the property owned by Kathryn Marshall Lam, causing damage to the vehicle parked in front as well as quite a lot of structural damage to that property. 

‘He has then made off from that location and driven at police cars, causing extensive damage to four police vehicles who were trying to block him. 

The incident began with an argument between Marshall and Ms Lam at their home in Norton Fitzwarren, near Taunton, over text messages she found on his mobile phone

This is the moment the Army truck crashes into the police roadblock, destroying four vehicles in the process

Other vehicles were also damaged in the process. Officers had tried to reason with Marshall when they found him behind the wheel of hte M35 truck at his home

They asked him to get out of the large vehicle ‘safely to talk to him about the allegation against him’ but he refused

Marshall then drove to the M5 and got out of the vehicle and got on to a bridge that crosses the motorway, crossed the barrier and threatened suicide

Marshall’s dangerous driving was described by a prosecutor as ‘deliberate and prolonged’. He has admitted 12 charges of criminal damage, as well as a charge of dangerous driving and another of assault by beating

‘He has then left the site and driven to the M5 motorway and got out of the vehicle and got on to a bridge that crosses the M5, crossed the barrier and has threatened suicide. 

‘Negotiations took place with the police, who have managed to get him down and arrested him for the matters before the court. 

READ MORE: Man, 41, is charged with dangerous driving and criminal damage after Army truck was driven through a police roadblock in Somerset

‘There was damage to a large amount of parked vehicles, which are reflected in the charges before the court. 

‘During the argument with Ms Marshall Lam, he took her phone and smashed it, causing a small amount of glass to go into her hand. 

‘He has then thrown away her phone into a river.’ 

Mr Kelly described Marshall’s dangerous driving as ‘deliberate and prolonged’ and said the sentencing guidelines carry a starting point of 18 months’ custody. 

‘We strongly believe this matter needs to be committed to the Crown Court for sentence,’ he said. 

‘The Crown suggest that what started as a reasonably low-level domestic dispute has escalated massively into what the Crown suggest is a reign of terror in relation to driving the large military vehicle, not only into the property of the complainant but also a large stretch of motorway involving four police vehicles and a number of civilian vehicles that were heavily damaged. 

‘Therefore, we would suggest that the defendant at this current stage is unable to act rationally.’ 

Marshall admitted 12 charges of criminal damage, including destroying four police vehicles and his partner’s Range Rover, as well as damaging her home, her iPhone, a council lamppost and four other cars. 

He also admitted charges of dangerous driving and assault by beating. 

The rear of one car was left crumpled with the window smashed after Marshall went on his ‘reign of terror’ 

Nigel Yeo, defending, did not apply for bail. 

Magistrates remanded Marshall into custody, ordering pre-sentence reports and imposing an interim driving ban. 

Presiding justice Trevor Morgan said: ‘This was a reign of terror with what was damaged by the vehicle you were driving. 

Marshall is set to appear at Taunton Crown Court for sentencing on October 13 for sentencing.

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