Thief returns stolen Audi after guilty conscience kicks in
A prolific thief who stole a £35,000 car told his victim where she could find it the following day due to his guilty conscience, a court heard.
Gavin Lancaster took the unlocked Audi Q3 from outside a home in Westgate, Aldridge after finding the keys in the glove box.
CCTV footage showed the 38-year-old getting in and out of the luxury car 15 times before finally deciding to take it.
The woman owner reported the theft to police and issued a plea on Facebook for help in finding the Audi which was read by Lancaster, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.
He sent a message to her the following morning in which he revealed it had been left in Kinross Crescent, Pheasey where she found it undamaged.
Lancaster, who had 49 previous convictions involving 100 separate offences, had stolen her iPhone and SatNav and sold both to settle an unpaid court fine over which he was being chased by bailiffs. He was jailed for 16 months.
Mr Oliver Woolhouse, defending, said: "The defendant had the devil on his shoulder and temptation before him. He was in an out of the vehicle for over an hour deciding if he was stupid enough to commit an offence - and he was.
"But his actions in returning the car the next morning mitigated his grotesque stupidity."
Mr Woolhouse concluded: "When the bailiffs came knocking on his door he panicked and while out for a walk decided to obtain some items to settle that debt."
Earlier on November 28 when the Audi was stolen Lancaster had been caught by staff at a nearby industrial unit walking round the building and had left empty handed after explaining he was 'looking for a fishing shop,' the court heard.
He was arrested on December 5 after being recognised from the CCTV film by a police officer.
Lancaster, from Barrow Close, Walsall Wood pleaded guilty to burglary with intent to steal and theft of a motor vehicle.
As well as being jailed, he was banned from the roads for two years for driving the stolen car while disqualified, which he also admitted.
Recorder Peter Ievins told him: "Everyone knows you are a persistent thief and burglar, which is why you got caught.
"These offences were not committed on impulse. You were trying to see what you could find and got lucky."
