Crook smirks as he escapes jail sentence
AMEMBER of a bungling gang who tried to steal a parking meter smirked as he walked free from court – while his accomplice was jailed.
Dale Goddard, 19, from Brinnington, showed his delight after receiving a community punishment order from Stockport magistrates.
Tyler Wild, 21, from Offerton, who had also admitted attempted theft, was sentenced to 12 weeks in jail. He had already been jailed for a year earlier this month in a separate handling stolen goods case.
Both were among three men seen at a car park on Derby Way, Marple, repeatedly ramming a parking meter with a stolen van.
Despite badly damaging the £3,000 machine they could not knock it over and drove off leaving debris behind.
A taxi driver who witnessed the incident followed the van and reported its registration number to police.
An officer then found the pair wearing high vis vests moving items off the van at a secluded spot off Tiviot Dale, central Stockport.
Wild, of Gypsy Walk, tried to run into the vehicle but a police dog detained him by the ankle. He and Goddard, of Brindale Road, were arrested but the third man was not found.
Both had originally denied the charge and were due to face a trial on Friday.
But they changed their plea after defence councils were shown CCTV footage and phone analysis of a handset that contained a text, ‘going to get a parking meter’.
The council estimated their parking meter would cost £3,025 plus £400 to install and another £150 for necessary software.
Defending dad-of-one Wild, Noel Griffiths said his partner was heavily pregnant and that Wild had not offended since a month-long period in September to October last year when the two charges stemmed from.
He added: “Because of his criminality he will miss the birth of his second child. It is a period in his life he regrets.
“He seeks to suggest the loss of his grandfather last year sent him off the rails. He was very close.”
Peter Malone, defending Goddard, said: “He has not offended since. He is easily led and may have seen this as a buzz.”
Goddard was given a 12-week curfew from 8pm to 7am and 150 hours of unpaid work.
Both must pay £1,500 compensation and £50 costs.