Man who threatened drivers in St Albans and Watford sentenced

A man who stole a car before threatening several drivers on an arterial route near St Albans has been sentenced to a total of seven years and nine months imprisonment at St Albans Crown Court.

James Heany, aged 27 and previously from Watford, was sentenced on Thursday 17 April. He has also been disqualified from driving for seven years and two months and must take an extended test if he wants to drive again.

The court heard how Heany stole a Ford Mondeo by threatening a man at knifepoint at an address in Telford Road in London Colney at 5.40pm on Tuesday 20 August last year.

Heany then drove dangerously, crashing the stolen vehicle into several cars during his journey onto the A405 North Orbital Road, just before the M1 junction and abandoned it in the carriageway when it broke down.  He then tried to rob seven other people of their cars, threatening them with a knife and jumping on their bonnets, as well as punching one victim in the face.

This was not a one-off incident however as the court heard that earlier in 2024, just after midnight on 13 March, Heany approached a young lone female in Tim Hortons’ car park in Watford’s North Western Avenue and threatened her with a knife, before stealing her car and crashing it.

Detective Constable Julie Vint, with support from her colleagues in the Watford Local Crime Unit, secured charges for the Watford offence, remanded Heany in police custody so the St Albans offences could also be put to him and further charges secured.    

Describing the incident on 13 March last year, she said: “The woman was terrified and feared for her life. A further man has been charged and is awaiting trial in July 2026 for aggravated vehicle taking in connection with this incident.”

Describing the August incidents, Sergeant Krisztina Gulyas from the St Albans Local Crime Unit explained: “One of the victims describes feeling frantic and scared, and she feared for her life. The impact of Heany’s actions has had a lasting effect on these drivers, some with young families who were just going about their daily business on 20 August last year.”

A huge police response, which included a helicopter and police dogs, was launched in response to the August incident, but Heany initially evaded officers. Detectives from the Local Crime Unit, with support from Retired Detective Sergeant Ian Siggery, worked hard to find wanted Heany and police caught up with him on Thursday 10 October last year in Waterhouse Street in Hemel Hempstead, where he was arrested.

Sergeant Gulyas said: “Heany was identified as the man responsible having been caught on dashcam footage and placed at the scene using DNA evidence. He denied the charges but quickly changed his plea due to the overwhelming evidence against him.”

Heany pleaded guilty to two robberies (one in Watford and one in St Albans), seven attempted robberies, possession of a bladed article (knife), common assault (punching male victim), public order (shouting and swearing on the A405) and dangerous driving. He was remanded in custody following his arrest and charge.

DC Vint said: “We are pleased that Heany has been given a lengthy sentence with recorder David Mayall taking into account his previous offending, which was terrifying for the young woman in Watford, and we hope it brings some comfort to the people Heany terrorised in August last year and all the motorists who had to witness such frightening actions.”

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