A man who stole an Audi A6 and was caught only hours later has a “contemptuous attitude towards the law", a court heard.
Sean Fagan, 29, was spotted driving the Audi A6, now on cloned plates, down the East Lancashire Road hours after stealing it on the night of October 9. Derrick Jones, prosecuting, explained police began a pursuit of the vehicle at around 1.30pm on October 10, when the vehicle was seen “weaving in and out of traffic" before managing to turn down a nearby crescent.
Fagan, of Whitney Road, Liverpool, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday for three charges relating to the theft of the car, which was stolen from Vincent Staunton while he cared for his sick mother.
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Mr Staunton, who shares caring duties for his mum with his siblings, was staying overnight at her house when the car was taken. He noticed the vehicle was missing at around 7.30am on October 10 and called police.
Soon after the car chase, other officers arrived at the scene and the defendant was spotted walking away from the vehicle. Mr Jones said: “When he saw police he started to run but was soon detained. He had some black gloves on him and a couple of what was described as ‘cloned car keys’. The key to the Audi was found afterwards by a police dog very near to where he had been arrested."
He added: “The vehicle was searched and the true number plate was found inside the vehicle, and fresh damage to the passenger side of the vehicle down the passenger door and wing was also noticed.”
In a victim impact statement read by the prosecution, Mr Staunton detailed the difficulties he faced getting to his mum's house to care for her without having his car. He said his mum requires 24 hour care for her dementia, and his brother had to alter shifts to cover her care. Mr Staunton is also self-employed, and said he suffered financial loss as a result of the theft because he had to cancel jobs.
The victim also had to pay £480 for the damage caused to the vehicle, and is waiting for further work to be carried out which he estimates will cost £1,500-2,000. Fagan was charged with one count of unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle, one count of driving while disqualified, and another for driving with no insurance.
Brendan Carville, defending, said Fagan did have an “unenviable criminal record” but that the crimes were mostly “nuisance” offences. He said: “He brought his kit with him, he appreciates this case crosses the custody threshold.
“He expects to go to prison today”. Mr Carville added: “He is still comparatively young, he is going to potentially lose his home”.
His Honour Judge Brian Cummings KC said: “You claimed to have forgotten to have been disqualified, that is nonsense of course but it reflects your contemptuous attitude towards the law. There is no mitigation of substance beyond the fact you pleaded guilty.
“Only immediate imprisonment in my judgement constitutes accurate punishment.” Fagan, who had to be told to “sit up” by the judge before sentencing, was given nine months imprisonment for the aggravated taking of a motor vehicle, and to four months to be served concurrently for driving while disqualified.
He was also disqualified for 22 months, and must take an extended retest before being able to drive again. A woman in the public gallery cried as he was sentenced.
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