Shropshire Star

Jailed: Man was part of gang which cut into side of lorry to steal tools as driver slept in cab

A man involved in stealing power tools worth thousands from a lorry parked in Telford with its driver inside has been sentenced, months after four others were sentenced.

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A gang of five men from Yorkshire targeted a lorry in Hortonwood in October 2017 to steal £21,208.08 worth of Makita tools, by cutting into the side of the vehicle as the driver slept in the cab.

Later that day the gang was caught red-handed on the M6, travelling in two vans with the tools inside.

All five were arrested and interviewed, and later pleaded guilty.

Four were sentenced for a single count of theft in May this year, with three of them sent to jail immediately and the fourth given a suspended sentence.

A fifth, Paul Kellett, was committed to be sentenced alongside the other thieves but failed to attend court and a warrant for his arrest was issued.

It emerged that Kellett had already begun a 14-month sentence he was given in Lincolnshire, for similar offences of theft from lorries which he committed within six months of the theft in Telford.

Addiction

That sentence is due to finish later this month. He was brought to Shrewsbury Crown Court on Wednesday to be sentenced for the Telford theft.

Judge Peter Barrie, who sentenced the four others in May, heard from prosecutor Rob Edwards and Kellett’s representative Debra White.

Kellett had accrued gambling debts of £15,000 and was approached by criminals who planned the theft from the lorry, the court heard.

Miss White said: “He has a serious gambling addiction. He has taken steps to deal with that.”

Judge Barrie sentenced Kellett to 10 months for his part in the Telford theft, and a consecutive one-month sentence for failing to attend in May.

His new sentence began immediately.

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