Furious viewers of 24 Hours in Police Custody demand 'JUSTICE' after hero father who ran burglars off the road is jailed for 22 months... while the crooks are spared prison - as well-wishers launch GoFundMe page to help family

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A father-of-two who was jailed for taking the law into his own hands when career criminals attempted to burgle his home has said he 'can't believe' the outpouring of support he has received.

Adam White, 34, was jailed in February for 22 months for causing serious injury by dangerous driving after he ran the would-be burglars off the road - while the crooks themselves were spared prison.

His story was told on last night's episode of 24 Hours in Police Custody on Channel 4, prompting fury from viewers who said they were 'completely sickened' by his conviction while Taylor Benford and Ryan Paul, both 25, received suspended sentences.

Since it was aired, White, from Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, said he had received 'kind words and heartfelt sympathy' from members of the public.

Adam White, who was jailed for 22 months after he took the law into his own hands when he chased two burglars, tweeted following last night's episode

Many said their 'blood was boiling' after watching the episode, prompting Bedfordshire Police to release a statement to explain their role in the case.

A GoFundMe page called 'Give Adam White Justice' has been set up to help his family, raising more than £12,000 in less than 24 hours.

Taylor Benford and Ryan Paul, both 25, had been armed with a crowbar and bolt cutters when they attempted the burglary in 2019.

They targeted White's home where he was with his wife Lindsay, 34, and their two children, aged 10 and eight.

But when White gave them chase, the would-be burglars sustained serious injuries after being thrown from the stolen motorbike, including a fractured skull, bleeding on the brain and broken bones.

Adam White was sentenced to 22 months in prison after being convicted at Luton Crown Court

Taylor Benford and Ryan Paul, both 25, received suspended sentences and 200 hours of community service at the same court

The programme showed the scene of the crash which left the two would-be burglars with serious injuries

A GoFundMe page was launched following the episode and has raised more than £12,000

While White was handed 22 months in prison at Luton Crown Court, Paul and Benford were given suspended sentences and 200 hours community service at the same court.

Viewers took to social media to blast the legal system, with one person who appeared to be a police officer saying the episode had 'got my blood boiling'.

They said: '24 Hours in Police Custody tonight has got my blood boiling. I love my job but outcomes like that make me think, what’s the point? Have we lost? Are the comforts of *career* criminals more important than the rights and entitlements of society as a whole?'

Another viewer said: 'Can’t see how it could possibly be in the public interest for the CPS to charge the victim of the burglary…?'

A third tweeted: 'That episode of 24 Hours in Police Custody has infuriated me. The justice system is an absolute joke!'

Video released by Bedfordshire Police shows Adam White chasing the career criminals who attempted to burgle his home

White said he had received an outpouring of sympathy following the programme, adding that he was 'lost for words'

Following the outpouring of sympathy, White penned an emotional tweet: 'Thank you to everyone for your kind words and heartfelt sympathy we have been through an awful lot, it was hard seeing this on TV and with all the messages I've received has been amazing and very emotional I honestly cant believe the public is behind me.'

He continued: 'This is unreal the support from everyone. My wife has just told me some people have set up a go fund me, and it honestly breaks my heart.

'Thank you, everyone from the bottom of my heart, I'm lost for words'.

Following the episode, Bedfordshire Police said that it was 'an important reminder that people must not take the law into their own hands'.

Viewers reacted on social media after the programme, with many blasting the legal system and saying it had been an 'infuriating' watch

They said: 'Policing and the wider criminal justice system divides opinion and undoubtedly tonight’s episode of 24 Hours in Police Custody will have done just that.

'Having determined this, the police are required to build an evidential case to submit to the CPS for consideration of whether there is sufficient evidence and where the public interest lies.

'Taylor Benford and Ryan Paul pleaded guilty to the attempted burglary, while Adam White was found guilty by a jury.

'In tonight’s episode, having considered both the evidence and the context in which the criminal offences were committed, the judge sentenced White to 22 months in prison, while giving a suspended sentence to Benford and Paul, recognising they both bore substantial responsibility themselves for their injuries.

'Our officers work incredibly hard to put criminals before the courts and disrupt their activities, but we know that the outcomes received do not always tell the full story.

'In this case, there were no winners.

'This episode is an important reminder that people must not take the law into their own hands. Such actions can have enormous consequences.'