Wheel trim thief who made £3k from Black Country haul jailed for 30 months

Stuart Jones raked in around £3,000 from the haul of hundreds of wheel trims he pinched from cars in the Smethwick and Dudley areas, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

The 36-year-old career criminal had already been hit with an Asbo when he was involved in a high speed car chase with police on September 18 last year. The court heard he attempted to flee in his Renault Laguna but was eventually traced to his home in Victoria Road, Tipton. Ms Sati Ruck, prosecuting, said officers searched his car and recovered 92 wheel trims, while a further 108 were found at his home. "He initially told officers he was buying and selling wheel trims and said he intended to sell them on ebay," said Ms Ruck.

Police went to Jones' address the following month and stopped him as he tried to pull off his drive in a Vauxhall Frontera, the court was told.

He was arrested after a search of his car revealed a metal industrial radiator, which he was prohibited from carrying under the terms of his Asbo, as well as bolt cutters and tools.

Ms Ruck added that between May and October, Jones had made £3,000 profit by selling the stolen wheel trims on ebay. The court was told Jones had committed 330 offences and amassed 98 court appearances over his 'appalling' criminal career. Miss Abigail Nixon, defending, said father-of-three Jones had embarked on a criminal career in order to support his family.

Jones, of Victoria Road in Tipton, pleaded guilty to eight counts of theft from a motor vehicle and one count of going equipped for theft.

He asked for 17 other theft offences to be taken into consideration. Judge Nicholas Webb sentenced him to a total of 30 months in prison.