Tipton thief jailed after stealing car with girl, 7, inside

Victor Partridge, of Ridgeway Road, Tipton, jumped into the car as the owner had gone to the TSB cash point in Market Place, in Great Bridge.

The 39-year-old had admitted aggravated vehicle taking, false imprisonment, driving whilst disqualified and driving without insurance and was sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Monday.

The court heard how he drove around 200 yards before he let the girl out of the car before driving off.

Mr Howard Searle, prosecuting, said: "The defendant stopped the car and let her out and continued to drive off, and in the process was involved in a collision with another car in Ball Fields.

Mr Robert Cowley, for Partridge, said there was minimal damage done to both the cars. He said: "The defendant was perhaps more surprised than anybody to find a child there. He drove about 200 yards while the child was in the car at a relatively slow speed. If it had not been for the false imprisonment charge, this case would have been tried in front of magistrates."

Judge John Wait said Partridge had a long history of car taking, and had more than 20 previous convictions.

He said: "You saw your opportunity to take the car. While it may be that when you made your decision to take it you did not know that there was a child in the car, you did not stop immediately afterwards when she started calling for her father."

He sentenced Partridge to six months for aggravated vehicle taking, and a further four months for driving whilst disqualified. He was also banned from driving for three years. The false imprisonment charge was ordered to lie on file.