Ruislip & Eastcote & Northwood Gazette
Bus fan stole double-decker for joyride
A WANNABE bus driver who stole two double-decker buses and went joyriding with friends around London has avoided a jail term.
On one occasion, Shakeil Austin, a former bus conductor and cleaner, allowed his passengers to drive a 12-ton Routemaster before smashing it into a parked white Mercedes.
Austin, who was only a learner driver, told police it was his dream to be a bus driver after he took another red double-decker from the same spot while wearing an inspector’s hat and hi-vis jacket.
The 20-year-old has been banned from Metroline buses after he admitted a string of driving and theft offences from Edgware Road, north-west London.
Austin, who has autism, was sentenced for his crimes at Willesden Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday June 12.
Prosecuting, Martin Edwards told the court: “He worked for the bus company as a cleaner.
“By the time of the offences he was an ex-employee.
“On two occasions he has taken the bus out and put friends on the bus in the early hours of the morning.
“On the first occasion he collided with a Mercedes.
“He’s given an interview where he effectively said it was his dream to be a bus driver and that’s why he did what he did.”
Austin, of Brent, in north-west London, fled after crashing the bus on February 16.
Mr Edwards confirmed that “the vehicle was simply returned without any difficult and he was discovered” on March 25.
Austin also admitted stealing a Metroline bus driver’s bag, bus driver’s jacket, one hi-vis jacket and a radio on April 15.
His Facebook page was littered with bus memorabilia, images of old Routemasters and photographs of himself dressed as a conductor and a driver.
Mr Edwards said: “I’m surmising they’ve looked at CCTV footage.
“His name came up as someone who had been working for one of the cleaning contractors who knew how to start up buses.
“When buses go missing they go on a central log and that’s how they’ve managed to link the two offences to Mr Austin.”
Speaking in mitigation, Kathey Joyce said: “He’s 20 years old, he’s a vulnerable young man that was noticed at the police station.
“It’s not a lack of intelligence but possibly a lack of understanding and autism.
“He was also a conductor on buses.” Deputy District Judge Joanna Evans said the offences all stemmed “from your great love of buses and desire to work or be involved with buses”.
She said: “It’s not just that he doesn’t have a bus driver’s licence, but none at all.
“It seems that there’s ample evidence before me that there’s some concern in terms of your mental health.
“You on February 16 and March 25 2019 drove buses which obviously didn’t belong to you and you had no permission to drive.
“Not only were you not qualified to drive a bus you were not qualified to drive any vehicle as you had a provisional licence.
“Happily nobody was injured, nobody was in the Mercedes and you failed to stop and report that accident.
“The public need to be safe in the knowledge that people cannot go on joyrides with their friends or on their own - it is a matter of great concern.”
Austin, who had no previous convictions and now works as a waiter, was sentenced to an 18-month community order with 20 days of rehabilitation and 15 days of “thinking skills” training.
He was given a two-month curfew, 18-month driving ban and 12-month ban on entering Metroline buses.
He must also pay £85 prosecution costs and £85 victim surcharge.
He pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle without a licence, aggravated vehicle taking and failing to stop after an accident in Edgware Road on February 16.
He also admitted taking a vehicle without consent, using a vehicle on a road without third party insurance and driving a vehicle without a valid licence on March 25.
In addition, he admitted taking one radio, one Metroline driver’s bag, a driver’s jacket and one hi-vis jacket on or before April 15.