Yob stole and crashed Domino’s pizza delivery driver’s car in Newton

Shane Appleton was slammed by a judge for his ‘appalling criminal record’ and his manner of driving, which displayed ‘absolutely no skill whatsoever’.

The 26-year-old was arrested on Christmas Day after leaving his mobile phone in the written-off car when he fled the scene.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that at around 6pm on December 23 last year, the victim was working as a pizza delivery driver for Domino’s when he attended an address on Oak Avenue in Newton-le-Willows.

He parked his red Honda Jazz outside, unwisely leaving the keys inside as he approached the front door of the address, the court heard from Joanne Daniels, prosecuting.

He turned however after hearing the tyres of his car ‘screeching’ as it was driven away at speed by the defendant, who lived on the same street.

Officers from Merseyside Police’s roads policing unit were on patrol in the area and received the immediate report from the victim of his car being stolen.

Around 20 minutes later, they came across Appleton in the car as it pulled into the forecourt of the Esso petrol station on Mill Lane, close to Newton-le-Willows railway station.

Officers, in two separate marked police cars, attempted to block the defendant in, but he reversed and collided with one of the officer’s vehicles.

The second officer moved to block the Honda, which caused it to spin around and flee the garage at speed.

Officers pursued the car and came across it a short time later on Park Road North, where it had collided with some council-owned railings, with the defendant fleeing the scene.

Foolishly, Appleton left his mobile phone in the car, which allowed officers to trace him and arrest him at home on Christmas Day.

The crash caused more than £2,000 worth of damage to the fencing, while the Honda Jazz was written off.

The owner of the vehicle received £5,340 from his insurer, minus £500 he had to pay for his insurance excess.

In addition, a police officer sustained swelling and stiffness to his knee following the garage forecourt collision, while the cost of damage to police vehicles was more than £8,700.

He was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)

The court heard an impact statement prepared by the victim, who said that the incident caused him to lose his job, impacting him financially and practically without the use of his car to help family members.

Ms Daniels revealed that Appleton has 18 previous convictions for 48 offences, many for theft, burglary and going equipped for theft, with the defendant having spent time in prison before.

The court heard that he was on a community order at the time, when he caused deliberate damage to a police car and was under the influence of alcohol.

Appleton entered a guilty plea at the first opportunity to the charge of aggravated vehicle taking before the magistrates’ court in October.

He was charged with this offence when already sentenced in September for other driving offences which arose out of the same incident.

The defendant was sentenced to 12 months in prison suspended for 12 months for driving while disqualified, driving without insurance and failing to stop after an accident, and he was also handed rehabilitation days and a 12-month driving ban.

Offering mitigation, defence barrister Ben Berkson said that his client has already received a suspended sentence for elements of his offending that day and is working to address his alcohol usage.

Before sentencing, recorder David Knifton said: “You are 26 years of age, and you have quite frankly an appalling criminal record.

“Your actions risked enormous danger to other road users.

“You indicated that you were under the influence of alcohol at the time, confirmed by your manner of driving with absolutely no skill whatsoever and complete disregard for others, including police officers.

“The offences go beyond the custodial threshold, but I am prepared to give you a further chance to prove yourself by suspending the sentence today.”

Appleton, of Oak Avenue, was sentenced to four months in prison, but suspended for 18 months.

During this time, he must complete 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 180 hours of unpaid work.

He was also disqualified from driving for 18 months and must pass an extended retest after this period expires before getting behind the wheel again.

Applications for compensation towards the council railings and police cars damaged were not granted by the court, but it was deemed that the defendant should pay the £500 insurance excess paid by the complainant.