A CAR thief who took or drove a fleet of stolen cars worth close to £100,000 in a summer-long crimewave has been jailed for four-and-a-half years.
Scott Warner was involved in the taking of everything from a high-end BMW to a Scout group minibus which had been borrowed for a family holiday.
The 31-year-old and his accomplices would often also steal number plates and place them on to the vehicles in a bid to avoid detection.
During one raid in the 2017 spree, Warner and another man arrived at Clearwater Automotive in Rivenhall and asked to hear the engine on a £20,000 BMW.
The pair pretended they wanted to use a Ford Focus – also stolen – in part exchange.
When the salesman was distracted they drove off with both cars, a court heard.
A total of eight cars were also taken from D Salmon Automotive in Frating when car keys were grabbed during an overnight burglary and a car taken from a business in Wix.
A vehicle was also taken from outside a home in Clacton, a business in Wix and the minibus from a caravan park.
Warner, of London Road, Clacton, also made off without paying for diesel from Morrison’s in Harwich.
He admitted stealing cars worth £55,000 and handling stolen vehicles worth £42,500 along with a string of other dishonesty offences.
Warner has served jail time since the offences but was back stealing last summer when he took a decorator’s van left unlocked in Clacton, and used a credit card left inside.
He then drove to the victim’s home address and stole a Volkswagen Polo.
Warner also raided a Sainsbury’s in Clacton stealing booze and scratchcards.
Judge David Pugh jailed him for a total of 55 months at Ipswich Crown Court calling his crimes “professional and sophisticated”.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel