Man broke into cars and stole women’s clothes

A thief who stole women’s clothing from cars in Sunderland while drunk and on drugs has been jailed for offences a court heard he cannot recall.

Darren Hargrave, 22, of Wynyard Street, Silksworth, is beginning six weeks behind bars for a midnight crime spree that saw him break into three motors and try to evade arrest.

He first broke into a Citroen C1 in Cotswold Road,

Hylton Castle, on Wednesday May 20, taking a £12 pair of women’s trousers.

Soon after, he broke into a Ford Fusion, snatching gloves belonging to the female owner, valued at £25, South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court was told.

Hargrave’s car crimes were ended when he was spotted sitting in the driver’s seat of a Mercedes that was not his and police were called.

He tried to evade justice by fleeing, only to be caught in a garden, it was said.

Prosecutor Lorna Rimell said: “Police are called, and they find the defendant sitting in the driver’s seat.

“He struggles and makes off down the road. They find him in a garden. When they try to arrest him, he again struggles.”

Gerry Armstrong, defending, said: “He tells me he has no recollection. He went out for a walk and woke up in the police station. It would appear that the day before yesterday he took a drink and possibly took something that he shouldn’t have taken.”

Hargreaves pleaded guilty to two thefts, one of interfering with a vehicle and resisting arrest. He was jailed for six weeks for each theft, three weeks for interfering with a vehicle and one week for resisting arrest.

He must pay a £128 victim surcharge.