Men jailed after cars stolen in Birchley Street burglary

Shaun Jaundrill, 29, and James Hull, 39, who appeared at Liverpool Crown Court via video link from prison, were given jail sentences in relation to the stealing of vehicles from a property on Birchley Street, St Helens, on the night of June 2 last year.

Meanwhile, Paul Alban, 35, of Cherry Tree Drive, Parr, had already been jailed over the incident in February for 38 months, after pleading guilty to burglary, two counts of taking a vehicle without consent and possession of crack cocaine.

READ MORE > 'Drug user' with appalling record jailed after steaking cars in night-time burglary

Paul Alban was jailed in February for three years and two months

A fourth member of the gang, a 40-year-old man, was given a community order.

Prosecuting, Peter Killen, told the court that on June 2, 2021 a husband and wife were at home with their two children asleep on Birchley Street and had two cars parked outside their home in the street. These were a white Ford C-Max and a black Astra.

He said the dad went to bed at around 1am and “noticed the door handle of the front door was pointing down and adjusted it” and that the burglary had occurred between 11pm and 12.45am.

Mr Killen added that two hours later “at 2.40am police saw the C-Max with the defendants in travelling at 80mph in a 30 mph zone on Merton Bank Road and it failed to stop for officer".

The car was being driven by Alban.

Liverpool Crown Court

Police located the car on Lime Street, close to Crow Lane West, Newton-le-Willows.

“They noticed several bank cards leading to the front path” of a house and “police attended the property to conduct a search.

“Four men (the defendants) were in the property, Alban and Jaundrill were downstairs”, said Mr Killen, and Jaundrill was with another defendant “upstairs in the bathroom.

“One of the officers could hear the sound of porcelain from the toilet system being moved and car keys relating to both vehicles were found in the toilet system.”

Also, “various cards” were found in the property, relating the victims’ address.

All four defendants were then arrested.   

CCTV footage had captured Hull attempting to use two stolen cards to make £44.99 purchases at Worsley Brow petrol station in Sutton, the court heard.

Meanwhile, the black Astra, Mr Killen said, was “found in Charles Street close to the burgled premises” and had “appeared to abandoned”.

He said a “crack pipe which had the DNA of Jaundrill and Alban” was recovered from it.

The court was told the victims had suffered “financial costs” from the theft of the cars and “disruption to their working life”.

Shaun Jaundrill

Mr Killen said Jaundrill had also pleaded guilty to an attempted robbery in relation to a separate incident.

The defendant had attempted to rob a car belonging to the then manager of the Nine Arches pub in Earlestown in the early hours of September 26 last year.

Jaundrill punched and kicked his victim in the “ribs, face and crotch forcing him to throw the key down”.

Jaundrill then attempted to start the car “but couldn’t do so”.

Jailing Hull, judge David Swinnerton said: “You have a considerable record” with previous convictions including “burglary, vehicle interference, shoplifting offences and a robbery.

“You are also currently serving a sentence for breaches of a suspended sentence, of orders and a theft. I don’t have much option, I have to sentence you today and that will be an immediate custodial sentence.”

Hull, 39, of Borough Road, St Helens, who had 26 previous convictions for 47 offences, was sent to five months in jail, consecutive to the sentence he is currently serving.

James Hull

This included four months for the taking of a vehicle, a three-month concurrent sentence for fraud by false presentation in relation to the attempted use of the victims’ bank cards, and one month consecutive for failing to surrender to court by failing to appear for his initial sentencing date on February 17.

Meanwhile, Shaun Jaundrill, 29, of Crow Lane, West, Newton-le-Willows, was jailed for four years in total over the two separate incidents.

This included four years for the attempted robbery at the Nine Arches and a four-month concurrent term for the two counts of taking a vehicle in relation to the Birchley Street offence.

Jailing Jaundrill, who has previous convictions, including serving a 28-month sentence for a robbery in 2014, judge Swinnerton said: “You were a passenger shortly after the burglary, you were in the car when it was followed.

“Having been released under investigation, or bailed, you committed a further offence of attempted robbery. That particular offence is aggravated by your previous conviction for robbery, that you were released after taking a vehicle without consent and that you were using drugs.”  

Defending Hull, Michael O’Brien said his client “wants to rid himself of his addiction to drugs”.

Michael Hegarty, defending Jaundrill, said the 29-year-old had “mental health” issues and a “schizophrenia diagnosis”.

The court heard Jaundrill had refused to co-operate with a psychiatric report ahead of sentencing.

Meanwhile, the 40-year-old man, who pleaded guilty to one count of taking a vehicle without consent was sentenced to a 12-month community order.

He must do up to 20 days of rehabilitation activity and 100 hours of unpaid work.