Jail for man who stole 100 times

8:43am Thursday 10th April 2008

A PROLIFIC thief who struck more than 100 times has been jailed.

Thomas West pleaded guilty to three counts of theft - then asked a judge at Bolton Crown Court to take 100 more offences into consideration.

West, aged 33, of Earnshaw Street, Morris Green, was sentenced to 18 months in prison at Bolton Crown Court yesterday.

Passing sentence, Judge Brian Carter QC, said: "The number of offences that you have committed is such that my public duty, I believe, requires me to send you immediately to prison."

The court heard West had pleaded guilty to three counts of theft, one of being carried in a motor vehicle taken without consent and one of breaching an anti-social behaviour order.

Of the 100 additional offences, 98 involved stealing vehicles or theft from vehicles.

Lisa Bakker, prosecuting, told the court West had stolen a Vauxhall Corsa from outside a house in Deane, on February 8, which contained a puschair.

When the car was recovered by police the following day, the pushchair was missing.

She said: "This pushchair was used for the owner's disabled step-daughter who cannot get around without it."

The court also heard that police found a syringe in the car. DNA tests found the blood on the syringe matched that of West.

He admitted being driven in a car he knew was stolen on February 23, stealing a CD player from a car in Deane on February 26, and a hat from Whittakers on February 19.

Details of the additional 100 offences were not given at court.

Nick Ross, defending, said: "The defendant pleaded guilty to these offences at the earliest opportunity.

"He also offered to help police with the recovery of some property and gave information regarding the pushchair."

The pushchair has since been found and returned to its owner.

Judge Carter said: "We have heard a sample of victim statements as to how your conduct, because you needed money for drugs, affected them in relation to their private lives. A child who is disabled lost her means of transport because you stole her step-mother's car."

West was banned from driving for three years.