GUYTON: CROOK SOLD NEIGHBOUR’S CAR FOR SCRAP

A crook who sold his neighbour’s car for scrap after stealing it while he was away for Christmas has been locked up for a year.

Malcolm Guyton, 49, drove Paul Puni’s Toyota Corolla to a breaker’s yard after swiping the keys in a festive break-in.

Guyton also took the keys for another car, as well as televisions, laptops, jewellery, credit cards and cheque books.

One of the stolen bank cards was passed to his pal Grant Hames, 26, who used it to buy £150-worth of bikes from a Halfords store.

Jailing Guyton for 12 months, Judge Neil Sanders said: ‘You took advantage of knowing your next door neighbour was going away over Christmas. 

 

‘You took out the rear window and took items including two laptops, televisions, jewellery and a host of documents. 

 

‘Two cars were also stolen doubtless with the keys from the burglary.’

 

Handing Hames a four-month prison term, he added: ‘I’m quite satisfied you knew there had been a burglary and you helped him make money out of that particular crime.’ 

The pair are both already serving 16-month sentences for a separate burglary, imposed at St Albans Crown Court in March this year and the latest sentences will run consecutively.

Both have a string of previous convictions between them, including burglary and handling stolen goods.

Mr Puni’s home in (85) Sterry Road, Dagenham was raided on December 21 last year, with Hames using the card two days later.

Neil Fitzgibbon, for Guyton, said he was studying for a catering qualification and hoped to find work in the industry upon his release. 

 

‘He also hopes to make reparations to Mr Puni for his loss’, Mr Fitzgibbon added. 

 

Steven Walters, defending Hames, said he admitted his guilt at the earliest opportunity. 

 

Guyton, of (83) Sterry Road, Dagenham, admitted burglary. 

 

Hames, of no fixed address, admitted fraud but was cleared of burglary. A further count of fraud was left on the court file.