A YOUNG man drove a stolen van from Upton-upon-Severn to Worcester, despite not having a licence or insurance.
Stephen Grant, of All Saints Road in Worcester, pleaded guilty to driving without a licence or insurance and handling stolen goods after he was asked by a friend to drive the blue Toyota vehicle for him on May 20.
The 20-year-old was originally arrested following an investigation into a different vehicle, but during the course of his interview he admitted this offence, Worcester Magistrates Court heard on Friday (August 1).
Grant said when he took possession of the van he realised it had been stolen, but continued to drive it as a £700 sale for the vehicle had been organised, the court also heard.
For handling stolen goods he was handed a 12-month community order, with 12-months’ supervision, thinking skills, victim empathy and 150 hours of unpaid work.
Grant was also issued with six points on his driving licence, if he obtains one, and a £233 fine for driving with no licence and no insurance.
Chris Hilton, defending solicitor, said: “Police arrested him for an unrelated offence for which there were no charges brought against him.
“He wasn’t under arrest for the Toyota van but he revealed the information about that to the police and informed them of his wrong-doing.
“When originally asked he didn’t know the vehicle was stolen, but it soon became clear on arrival and he did drive it from Upton back to Worcester.”
Magistrates also ordered Grant to pay £100 in compensation, £85 court costs and a £60 victim surcharge.
Chair of the Bench Keith Stokes-Smith, said: “Some very foolish things you did here. You already have a record and things like this are only going to make things worse for you.
“It’s a very serious offence here in particular, not just handling stolen goods, but even when you knew the vehicle was stolen you carried on doing what you were doing regardless of that.
“Hopefully given your past record and this incident you will behave like an adult, because you are an adult and you need to start behaving like one.”
