MASKED thieves stole and torched a terrified delivery driver's car while he relieved himself at the roadside.

'Getaway driver' Richard Haney followed DPD driver Jamie Neale who had pulled over to relieve himself at Stanford Bridge on the Great Witley to Bromyard road, north west of Worcester.

Two men got out of Haney's car wearing balaclavas and stole Mr Neale's Fiat Punto and the packages inside he was delivering for DPD.

The car was found burnt out in Abberley as the men sought to cover their tracks while Haney drove off in his Vauxhall Astra.

Haney, 42, of Hanover Road, Rowley Regis had already admitted conspiracy to steal when he appeared at Worcester Crown Court on Thursday to be sentenced following the incident on October 15, 2015.

The crown prosecution service offered no evidence in relation to the other two men involved in the conspiracy despite Haney naming them as his masked accomplices.

The court heard how Haney was a former DPD driver himself and used his inside knowledge of the business to target Mr Neale, following him from the depot in Oldbury as he made his drops across Worcestershire.

Charles Hamer, prosecuting, said Mr Neale began the day with 30 parcels and was due to make 28 drops, leaving the depot at around 8.35am that morning and using his satellite navigation system to guide him to his various destinations.

He was at Stanford Bridge by the river Teme when he felt the need to relieve himself, getting out of the car and leaving the keys in the ignition.

Mr Hamer said Mr Neale could not remember whether or not the engine was running.

He added: "He looked to his left and saw two men in balaclavas. The first ran towards him, pointing. The second male followed, also pointing. The first of the men got into the driver's side of Mr Neale's Fiat Punto, the second male into the passenger side.

"Mr Neale described how he froze in shock when he saw the males approaching. He was frightened and intimidated."

The Punto, for which Mr Neale had paid £2,500, was found burnt out in Abberley. The car also contained his iPhone, passport, a leather wallet with £100 in cash and a Satellite Navigation System.

DPD also received 11 claims from customers for £1,255 for the stolen packages.

Haney's car had passed two women riding horses in his Vauxhall Astra and one had made a mental note of the registration which allowed police to swiftly identify the car and make an arrest.

When Haney was arrested he said he knew about what had happened and the car was his but that he had not been there, claiming he had been at his mother's house.

Haney has convictions, some of which date back to when he was a juvenile, for burglary, theft, grievous bodily harm, motoring offences, domestic assaults and criminal damage.

Akaal Sidhu, defending, said the offence was 'not particularly sophisticated' and said the father-of-two was now in a stable relationship and had a stable job as a shop fitter. He also said Haney was a carer for his elderly mother who had suffered a series of strokes.

He said: "It would be a shame for him to be at rock bottom again."

Judge Nicolas Cartwright said Haney committed the offence because he had gained inside knowledge from working for DPD, following Mr Neale from the depot and waiting for a chance to take the car.

He said the offence was aggravated because Haney was acting as part of a team of three and because of the loss, inconvenience and emotional distress suffered by the complainant. The destruction of the car, which the judge said must have been to hide forensic evidence, was also taken as an aggravating feature.

Haney was jailed for 16 months of which he can expect to serve half in custody and the remainder on licence.

The judge made a deprivation order in relation to the Astra because Haney was 'the getaway driver' and banned him from driving for 20 months. This will mean he will serve a 12 month ban once he is released after eight months.