Robbed car for revenge

Published on 1st November 2007 in News

Stealing an electronic device from a car to seek revenge and attempting to sell on a quantity of lead found in the street landed a Goole man with a £420 fine earlier this week.

Manus Barrett (40), of Eastgate, pleaded guilty to theft from a vehicle, and also to theft of the lead, when he appeared before Goole magistrates court on Tuesday.

Prosecutor Julie Laverack Glanville told the court that it was in the afternoon of September 26, when Mr Barrett smashed the driver's side window of an Audi S4 parked to the rear of Bartholomew House in Goole and stole a Road Angel, a device that warns drivers of oncoming speed cameras, that was visible in the car, before making off over a nearby brick wall.

Mr Barrett cut his hand whilst committing the crime, and forensic evidence led police to him. In interview, he fully admitted committing the crime, telling police: "I did it because I was off my head."

Mrs Laverack Glanville added that Mr Barrett had taken 'a quantity of pills' before committing the crime.

The court also heard that on October 14, Mr Barrett and another man were seen at D & S Metals in Old Goole, attempting to sell on a quantity of lead estimated at around 25kg in total.

When interviewed by police, Mr Barrett said that he had found a small quantity of lead, around 10kg to 11kg, at the bottom of the 'Monkey Bridge' in Goole and although he knew that it was not his right to sell on the lead, he took it to the scrap yard, where he met another unknown man, who was also trying to sell some lead.

Defending, Shaun Pinchbeck told the court that Mr Barrett had been on his way to Old Goole when he found a yellow plastic carrier bag at the foot of the bridge, containing three pieces of lead.

When Mr Barrett arrived at the scrap yard, staff there asked him for ID. He did not have any, but another man selling lead did have ID and the pair decided to sell their quantities of lead together.

Mr Pinchbeck added that the other man received £75 in total for the lead, of which £10 was given to Mr Barrett.

In interview, Mr Barrett said that someone could either have left the lead at the foot of the bridge, or they could have been coming back for it, but he did not know.

The court also heard that Mr Barrett committed the earlier theft of the Road Angel after he believed the parked car belonged to someone who had previously stolen the CD system from his own car. After committing the crime, Mr Barrett became unsure, and disposed of the Road Angel where the car was parked, although the item has not been recovered.

Magistrates ruled that for theft from a vehicle, Mr Barrett would pay a £100 fine, and ordered that he pay a £50 fine for the theft of lead. He was also ordered to pay £200 in compensation for the theft of the Road Angel, £55 towards court costs and a £15 compulsory victim surcharge.