Man is jailed for theft of van

A MAN who ended up on trial for the murder of Newport dad Ryan O’Connor stole an Amazon delivery van and swiped alcohol from a supermarket.

Earlier this month, Elliott Fiteni was found not guilty of the murder of 26-year-old Mr O’Connor. On Friday, he was back before Cardiff Crown Court – albeit via video link – for a string of offences dating back to 2019, two years before he went on trial.

The court heard how the 20-year-old, drove off in an Amazon van on August 27, 2019, and ended up in a police chase before ditching the vehicle and hiding from officers. Two months later he stole £480 of booze from a Tesco store.

The court was also told March 15, 2021, Fiteni breached a suspended sentence by sending offensive text messages to an offender manager, and on March 25, 2021, he failed to attend an appointment despite receiving a letter notifying him of it.

Fiteni, of Leacroft Place, Cardiff, appeared in court for sentencing having been convicted of driving while disqualified, using a motor vehicle on a road without third party insurance and theft from a shop.

He further admitted that having been convicted of assault by ABH, assault by beating, having a bladed article in a public place, he was sentenced to 18 months’ detention, suspended for 18 months with requirements, he was in breach of the order by his further offending. He has also previously been convicted of aggravated vehicle taking, causing vehicle damage under £5,000, driving while disqualified, and driving dangerously on August 27, 2019.

Mitigating, Fiteni’s solicitor, Christopher Lloyd Rees said: “He knows, having been through what he’s been through, that his lifestyle needs to change. One can only hope that is the case.”

Judge Michael Fitton QC sentenced Fiteni to 31 months in prison. He has been disqualified from driving for three years and nine months.