POLICE CHASE CAR THIEF WALKS FREE
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From today's Bath Evening Chronicle...
POLICE CHASE CAR THIEF WALKS FREE
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11:15 - 19 June 2006
A motorist has been sentenced after trying to escape from police in a sports car stolen in a house burglary.
But 30-year-old Anthony Mead, who has a long history of burglary and car crime, walked free from court as he had been in custody on remand since before Christmas. Mead had denied aggravated vehicle taking and dangerous driving but was found guilty by a jury at Swindon Crown Court.
The court heard how a Toyota Celica sports car was taken from the front drive of John Rafferty's home, in Westbury, in the early hours of Saturday, December 17 last year.
The previous day, a set of keys had been taken from the house while Mr Rafferty was at work.
Just over 24 hours after being stolen the car was spotted leaving a service station in Box after Mead had filled it up with £46 worth of petrol and left without paying, the jury heard.
The police helicopter was scrambled and officers spotted the red car stationary in a lay-by on the A46 near Bath.
The jury of six men and six women were shown video footage from the aircraft as the vehicle set off on the Swainswick bypass before turning on to the A363 towards Bradford on Avon.
Tim Hills, prosecuting, said a number of police cars joined the pursuit and lay in wait to stop the vehicle.
On the outskirts of Bradford on Avon the police cars boxed in Mead and as he tried to get away he collided with an unmarked Honda.
Mead claimed that he had been offered the car on approval by a friend called Patrick who wanted £500 for it and did not know that it was stolen.
And he said that any collision had been caused by the police's driving and not his as he had not realised they were trying to stop him.
Charles Ward-Jackson, defending, said that his client's life had been difficult as he had a personality disorder.
He said that he had experienced drug problems as he tried to self medicate with cocaine but became addicted and offended.
When he was released he said that he hoped to work as a gardener or builder with his cousin.
Judge John McNaught heard that Mead was banned from driving at the time and in 2003 was jailed for more than four years for breaking into a house and stealing keys just weeks after being released from prison for aggravated vehicle taking.
Passing sentence, Judge McNaught said: "You are getting yourself a long list of offending and you have to understand, and really you don't need me to tell you, if you go on offending you will spend more and more time in prison.
"There are better things for a young man to do than spend time in prison."
He passed a 12-month sentence but as Mead had been in custody for more than six months he was released.
Mead was also ordered to pay £200 compensation to cover the insurance excess on the car and banned from the road for a year and until he passes an extended re-test.
POLICE CHASE CAR THIEF WALKS FREE
Next Story | Previous Story | Back to list
11:15 - 19 June 2006
A motorist has been sentenced after trying to escape from police in a sports car stolen in a house burglary.
But 30-year-old Anthony Mead, who has a long history of burglary and car crime, walked free from court as he had been in custody on remand since before Christmas. Mead had denied aggravated vehicle taking and dangerous driving but was found guilty by a jury at Swindon Crown Court.
The court heard how a Toyota Celica sports car was taken from the front drive of John Rafferty's home, in Westbury, in the early hours of Saturday, December 17 last year.
The previous day, a set of keys had been taken from the house while Mr Rafferty was at work.
Just over 24 hours after being stolen the car was spotted leaving a service station in Box after Mead had filled it up with £46 worth of petrol and left without paying, the jury heard.
The police helicopter was scrambled and officers spotted the red car stationary in a lay-by on the A46 near Bath.
The jury of six men and six women were shown video footage from the aircraft as the vehicle set off on the Swainswick bypass before turning on to the A363 towards Bradford on Avon.
Tim Hills, prosecuting, said a number of police cars joined the pursuit and lay in wait to stop the vehicle.
On the outskirts of Bradford on Avon the police cars boxed in Mead and as he tried to get away he collided with an unmarked Honda.
Mead claimed that he had been offered the car on approval by a friend called Patrick who wanted £500 for it and did not know that it was stolen.
And he said that any collision had been caused by the police's driving and not his as he had not realised they were trying to stop him.
Charles Ward-Jackson, defending, said that his client's life had been difficult as he had a personality disorder.
He said that he had experienced drug problems as he tried to self medicate with cocaine but became addicted and offended.
When he was released he said that he hoped to work as a gardener or builder with his cousin.
Judge John McNaught heard that Mead was banned from driving at the time and in 2003 was jailed for more than four years for breaking into a house and stealing keys just weeks after being released from prison for aggravated vehicle taking.
Passing sentence, Judge McNaught said: "You are getting yourself a long list of offending and you have to understand, and really you don't need me to tell you, if you go on offending you will spend more and more time in prison.
"There are better things for a young man to do than spend time in prison."
He passed a 12-month sentence but as Mead had been in custody for more than six months he was released.
Mead was also ordered to pay £200 compensation to cover the insurance excess on the car and banned from the road for a year and until he passes an extended re-test.
Parrot of Doom said:
But he served 6 months in prison. Thats hardly 'walking free'.
He served six months on remand for theft, driving while disqualified, embarking on a Police chase, crashing while driving recklessly and stealing petrol. All this after just being released half way through a previous four year jail term. That's hardly justice.Parrot of Doom said:
Mon Ami Mate said:
Parrot of Doom said:
You can't measure justice in terms of the length of a prison sentence.
This is an attention grabbing headline story, designed to sell papers and not actually reflect on the real story.
So what do you believe is the "real story"?This is an attention grabbing headline story, designed to sell papers and not actually reflect on the real story.
I believe the real story is most likely the story the judge had available to him/her, and is the story used when determining the sentence for the guilty man. I don't believe its a story printed in a newspaper which is there primarily to make a profit.
The story is that this hardened, cocaine addicted thief got out of prison half way through a pathetic sentence, nicked someone's P and J, stole a tankful of petrol, and then crashed while stupidly trying to avoid capture. What else could m'lud have been party to? A Labour membership card? Some incriminating photos of m'lud in his suspenders spreadeagled across the bonnet of the Supra? Please explain!
vonhosen said:
petea said:
Parrot of Doom said:
But he served 6 months in prison. Thats hardly 'walking free'.
For me its the comparative sentences and how they are dealt with....the guy was guilty of all those offences costing tax payers how much...? Helicopters, crash damage, etc and he serves 6 months.
He deliberatley set out to do this.
When some one is caught speeding in their own car, fully road legal, etc, etc...look at what happens....depending on the speed, etc...huge fine and a ban, in extreme cases a prison sentence.
Whats worse?
Who has ever been sent to prison for speeding ?
Based on the above, can anybody explain why this man is going to prison?!! JUDGE IN PRISON WARNING TO PETROL THIEF
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11:15 - 26 June 2006
A motorist who stole a tank of fuel then led police on a high- speed chase from Bath to Bristol has been told he faces jail.
Dean Clark put false number plates on his car then stole £46 worth of fuel from a petrol station in Bath on June 8 this year. As he drove off towards Bristol he was spotted by patrolling police officers. They followed the 41-year-old along the A420 at 80mph. Clarke then drove through Wick High Street at 60mph.
He was finally boxed in by police who smashed his windscreen.
Clarke admitted charges of dangerous driving, making off without payment, and using a vehicle without a test certificate, licence or insurance.
He appeared in the dock at Bristol Crown Court on Friday to be sentenced. However, his barrister, Timothy Hills, called for an adjournment and asked for a pre-sentence report to be prepared addressing the defendant's health and family problems.
Recorder Leslie Blohm remanded Clark, of Westleigh Close, Southmead, Bristol, into custody and adjourned sentencing until Friday, June 30.
He told him: "There's only one likely outcome and that's that you will receive a custodial sentence."
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