Immigrant jailed for stealing van
A Lithuanian immigrant was caught with a stolen van less than three months after arriving in this country allegedly looking for work, a judge heard.
A passing police patrol spotted Gediminas Babusis putting false plates on the vehicle in Sowers close, Willenhall at 1am on November 10, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.
"He was crouching at the rear of the van and using a screwdriver to mess about with the number plates, " revealed prosecutor Mr Jasvir Mann who added: "The ignition and dashboard were damaged."
The 2015-registered van had been reported stolen from outside an address two miles away just hours earlier, the court heard.
Miss Saleema Mahmood, defending, said the 44-year-old Lithuanian had arrived in this country to look for work less than three months before the offence.
Babusis, of no fixed address and of previous good character, pleaded guilty to the theft of a motor vehicle and was jailed for six months.
