POLICE CHASE CAR THIEF WALKS FREE
Discussion
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:
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?
The Judge says keep offending and you will spend more time in jail, then doesnt keep him in jail? WTF?
Why wasnt the two years he didnt serve on the last sentence added? In fact, why didnt they chop his hand off? That means he wouldnt steal any more cars, wouldnt spend any more time in jail, the world would be a better place!
Why wasnt the two years he didnt serve on the last sentence added? In fact, why didnt they chop his hand off? That means he wouldnt steal any more cars, wouldnt spend any more time in jail, the world would be a better place!
Parrot of Doom said:
You can't measure justice in terms of the length of a prison sentence.
How, then, should we measure justice? Only last week the BBC was running stories on the relative prison terms for rape and money laundering, amongst other comparisons. If even the BBC is guilty of attempting to "measure justice in terms of the length of a prison sentence", then please enlighten me and the BBC.
francisb said:
if he was on early release from a previous sentence why didnt he have to serve the remainder of that one (ie 2 more years) followed by the 6 months ?
i think you only have to go back in and serve the rest if you are out on parole, if you are released early "for good behaviour", i think it counts as if you've done your time.
Mon Ami Mate said:
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.On most issues, I try to see the other side and be a little compassionate. However, in this case I can hardly see that there is another side than the blokes a thief, a liar and deserves to be locked up away from the public. Clearly he will re-offend and 6 months for buglary (ok, didnt get him on that one, but its pretty obvious), car theft, uninsured, etc etc etc....
Getting bored of these "let 'em off" tactics that our judiciary seems to be providing. Lock them up until they have finished their sentence.... seems pretty simple - especially so if they are going to re-offend. This isnt rocket science...
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.
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!
Do his excuses make you laugh or what?!
"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."
"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."
From the newspaper article.
"Charles Ward-Jackson, defending, said that his client's life had been difficult as he had a personality disorder. "
Must remember that one.
I wonder if that would make a reasonable defence for speeding?
"Sorry M'lud, it was the car not me doing 34 in a 30. It was taking advantage of mi personality disorder and was snorting BP Ultimate at the time. I didn't realise that it would make it so fast. It's had a difficult early life and was in and out of the dealer's workshop all the time. I still think the throttle stuck and/or the brakes failed as I passed the camera .. etc., etc."
What do you think? Might work? Or more likely to attract 5 years in solitary?
"Charles Ward-Jackson, defending, said that his client's life had been difficult as he had a personality disorder. "
Must remember that one.
I wonder if that would make a reasonable defence for speeding?
"Sorry M'lud, it was the car not me doing 34 in a 30. It was taking advantage of mi personality disorder and was snorting BP Ultimate at the time. I didn't realise that it would make it so fast. It's had a difficult early life and was in and out of the dealer's workshop all the time. I still think the throttle stuck and/or the brakes failed as I passed the camera .. etc., etc."
What do you think? Might work? Or more likely to attract 5 years in solitary?
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 ?
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 ?
Here's another!
A couple of other things on the list, but mostly for speeding:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3
A couple of other things on the list, but mostly for speeding:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3
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