Jail for man driving stolen £18,000 van

Kyle Morris-Jones, from Bradley, Bilston, was seen driving the Mercedes van in Bilston by police hours after it was taken from Midlands Truck & Vans in Neachells Lane Wednesfield.

The van was one of three that was stolen from the business on May 3 with the value of those taken totalling £58,000.

Mr Iain Willis, prosecuting, told Wolverhampton Crown Court that police spotted Morris-Jones in the white Mercedes vehicle at Stag Industrial Estate on Oxford Street, Bilston.

He said: "Police saw one of the vans that had been taken which was blue and it had no registration plate.

"Officers then saw a white van which had two occupants in it. It was followed to an industrial area and the defendant was seen to get out. Police said that the defendant was walking in a suspicious way.

"He was then seen to place keys under a pile of tyres."

Morris-Jones was arrested and told police that he had been asked to drive the van from one location to another.

The court heard that the 26-year-old had been sentenced at Shrewsbury Crown Court in August for burglary and theft and was given 16 months in jail.

He had commited the offences while on bail for driving the stolen van.

Morris-Jones, of Walter Road, Bradley, pleaded guilty to a charge of handling stolen goods.

Mr Jon Roe, defending, said: "Mr Morris-Jones assisted police when he was arrested.

"He told them where the keys to the Mercedes van was and also gave them information that led them to recover the two other vans which were outstanding at the time. In terms of his previous offences his record is is poor.

"He had a period between 2007 and 2013 where he didn't offend.

"In this time he found employment and was in a steady relationship.

"It is since the breakdown of that relationship he has re-offended."

Recorder Nigel Baker QC sentenced Morris-Jones to two years in prison and ordered him to pay a £120 victim surcharge.

Recorder Baker said as he passed sentence: "You have admitted receiving a £18,000 van which was part of a burglary.

"The question I have to ask myself is if this case before Shrewsbury Crown Court would you have received a longer sentence. I take into account that you pleaded guilty and I take into account that you assisted the police."