Thief makes off in Amazon driver’s car to visit family
YOU’VE A TERRIBLE RECORD, JUDGE TELLS ‘SELFISH’ VILLAIN
A MAN stole an Amazon delivery driver’s car so that he could go and visit his family during lockdown.
Simon Buckley, 46, had been trying to get to his family home in Wythenshawe when he noticed a delivery driver had left the keys in the ignition of his Toyota Corolla.
Manchester magistrates court heard how Buckley, who was already disqualified from driving, took the car while the driver was delivering a parcel, last Sunday afternoon.
Later that day, he was stopped by a police officer in the Wythenshawe area who ran a check on the car and noticed it had been reported stolen. The officer also noticed that Buckley had previously been disqualified from driving in
2003 for an offence of dangerous driving.
Rob Stewart, defending, told the court that Buckley had been isolating at a flat in north Manchester but wanted to visit his family in Wythenshawe.
Mr Stewart said his client had been sick of his living situation and when he saw the car with the keys in, he seized the opportunity to steal it.
Buckley, of Moorway Drive, Manchester, was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months after admitting an offence of theft of a motor vehicle and driving while disqualified.
Kavi Choolun, prosecuting, told the court: “On May 17, 2020, at 4.30pm a delivery driver from Amazon was out delivering parcels on Princess Road when he noticed his vehicle was missing. That same day at 6.15pm a police officer noticed the vehicle and stopped the car, and realised it had been reported stolen.
“The defendant was arrested and the police officer noticed the defendant had been disqualified from driving from an offence a while ago. He has numerous driving offences on his record and in 2003 was convicted for dangerous driving.” Buckley’s lawyer, Mr Stewart, said: “He is both disappointed and angry with himself about this slip. This was a completely opportunistic offence.
“The defendant was trying to get back to the Wythenshawe area and saw the keys and stupidly took the car. He had been living in Clayton but due to the current circumstances he is having trouble in his flat and wanted to go to Wythenshawe to see his friends and family. This may not have been the wisest decision given the situation.”
Sentencing, District Judge Jack McGarva said: “You have a terrible record and that is made more serious because that vehicle was someone’s means of earning a living. Your selfish act would have put that in jeopardy.”
He is both disappointed and angry with himself about this slip
Rob Stewart, defending