A man stole an iphone, jewellery and a car from the home of a woman he had met hours earlier.
Callum Rose, 23, Woodcote Close, Kirkby appeared at Liverpool Crown Court today (Friday). Derrick Jones, prosecuting, told the court that Paula Duncan went on a night out on Saturday June 19, 2021, and met Callum Rose, 23, out with his friend.
They all went to a party in Liverpool and at around 4am, Ms Duncan and Rose went back to her home in Widnes, which she shares with her mother Donna Duncan.
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Mr Jones said: “She allowed him to stay over in her room at the address, and when she woke up at 9am the next morning, the defendant was gone but she noticed her phone had gone as well. “Later on she noticed her jewellery box and a bracelet had been taken too.”
Similarly, Donna Duncan noticed her Vauxhall Corsa was missing from the drive, and the key was missing from her bag along with £30 cash. Police were called, but Ms Duncan also made contact with Rose via friends on social media.
Rose, of Woodcote Close, Kirkby, apologised and said he had not meant to take the car but was “high on drugs” at the time. It was arranged that he would leave the vehicle at a nearby Asda carpark that afternoon, and Ms Duncan's father went to collect it.
He tried to chase Rose but the thief vacated the car and escaped. Mr Jones said: “The key and car were returned, however it was noticed there were scuff marks to the front bumper and the side panel of the car.
“The defendant was arrested by police later the same day, and was found to have Ms Duncan’s stolen bracelet in his pocket, as well as her driving licence.” Rose has eight previous convictions for 21 offences, including vehicle offences which resulted in a seven year disqualification.
He pleaded guilty at the pre trial hearing to two counts, one of theft and another of aggravated vehicle taking. No charge for disqualified driving could be added as the six month time limit had passed, but it was still treated as an aggravating feature.
Brendan Carville, defending, said: “The car was returned by him, albeit in a damaged state, and it is quite clear from his record he has a serious habit with class A drugs.”
“He thought better of it and brought the car back, albeit he didn’t return all the property."
In sentencing, Recorder Maher said: “The evening had proceeded well, you had struck up a friendship with this lady and she was sufficiently comfortable in your company that she invited you to return to her home in the early hours of the morning. “When she woke up you had gone, well that was fine but her phone and car had gone as well.
“No doubt she felt cheated by what you had done to her, she having invited you into her home.” He added: “You plainly were driving while disqualified at the time you were driving this vehicle.”
Rose was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment for the theft, and four months for aggravated vehicle taking to be served concurrently. A victim surcharge was also applied, and he was disqualified for two years plus an extension period of six months to account for time spent in prison.
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