Serial offender led police on a 90mph chase through the city

HE WAS FOUND HIDING IN CHILD’S PLAYHOUSE AFTER FLEEING CAR

A DELIVERYMAN was out of his car for 15 seconds before it was stolen by an opportunist thief who then sped at 90mph in a 30mph zone, a court heard.

Reece Marsden was cycling past the stationary Vauxhall Astra in Beaconsfield Road, off Narborough Road, Leicester, when he spotted the keys inside.

The 21-year-old, who had already clocked up 64 offences on his criminal record, dumped the bicycle he was riding and made off in the vehicle, on the morning of July 15.

The city’s crown court was told that he later attributed his actions to simply being “young and dumb”.

Nicola Patten, prosecuting, said that police officers caught up with the Astra in Hinckley Road as it went through a red light.

Marsden, of Scalpay Close, Beaumont Leys, failed to give way at junctions, before mounting a kerb and driving along a grassed embankment for 50 metres.

He reached 90mph in 30mph residential areas, with other motorists forced to take evasive action.

Marsden drove the wrong way on two roundabouts and went over speed bumps at more than 50mph.

Then, having abandoned the vehicle and running off, he was found hiding in a child’s playhouse in the back garden of a house.

Miss Patten said the car’s owner, a self-employed deliveryman, had only been out of the vehicle for about 15 seconds before it was stolen. He had relied heavily on his Astra for work and family use.

Marsden, of Scalpay Close, Beaumont Leys, admitted taking the Astra without consent and dangerously driving it on city roads without a licence or insurance, as well as a bail offence for failing to attend court.

He also admitted stealing a bicycle from outside a toy store at St Margaret’s Retail Park, in Devonshire Road, in the city, on May 20.

Rebecca Barrowclough, mitigating, said: “He accepts full responsibility for his actions and wishes to apologise to all who were impacted by this offending.”

She said his previous convictions were mainly to fund his cannabis and cocaine misuse, but he was currently detoxing in prison.

The barrister added: “He was riding by and just saw the car keys were in the vehicle. It was entirely opportunistic and he acted on impulse.”

Miss Barrowclough said Marsden has “maturity issues” and had rightly described himself as being “young and dumb.”

She said he now risked losing his flat, if jailed, which had provided him with stability and he had a job offer.

Sentencing, Judge Keith Raynor said: “You have a number of convictions for a whole lot of offending across a range of offences, although no previous for dangerous driving.

“This was a very bad piece of driving.”

He said he accepted Marsden’s diagnosis of having ADHD may have contributed to his offending.

The judge added: “In this case the need for punishment outweighs any rehabilitation on offer to you.” Marsden was jailed for 16 months. He was also banned from driving for two years.