Prolific Wednesbury joy-rider given car seat ban

A prolific joy-rider has been banned from sitting in the driver's seat of any vehicle for two years after repeatedly stealing cars and taking them for overnight spins.

Brandon Smith, aged 18, caused misery for motorists in his neighbourhood, where residents would often wake to find their car had been driven off, damaged and dumped streets away.

Others were left with costly repair bills to locks Smith had tampered with in the Wednesbury area.

Most recently, he took a Vauxhall Corsa parked in Bannister Road on July 3 without the owner's consent and, four days later, tampered with a motorbike in Westbury Road, Warley magistrates were told.

He admitted vehicle interference and taking a car without the owner's consent. Smith, who has five similar convictions, but has failed to comply with community orders, has now been given a criminal anti-social behaviour banning him from sitting behind the wheel of any vehicle until August 2014.

He has also been banned from Wednesbury for the same period, and from contacting a named associate.

Smith, from Ebenezer Street in Hill Top, faces up to five years behind bars for any breaches.

Pc Andrew Hedge, of West Bromwich Police, said: "Smith seems to break into cars simply for kicks or misguided bravado to try to impress others.

He may not be intending to deliberately deprive owners of their cars but his actions have caused considerable distress to Wednesbury residents for quite some time.

"The conditions attached to the order are needed to deter Smith from committing further offences and to protect Wednesbury motorists who need respite from his offending.

"The neighbourhood police team and offender management unit will be on the look out for Smith and, should he try ignoring the bans, he'll be dragged back into court and face further punishment."

Leaflets featuring Smith's image are now being handed out and anyone who spots Smith in Wednesbury or behind the wheel of a car has been asked to contact officers on 101.