Offender sentenced for string of crimes

A man was given a 50-week suspended sentence for crimes over the last three years.

Khurram Rahi, aged 19, of Rosefield Road, Smethwick, was at Wolverhampton Crown Court after conviction on charges including car theft, perverting the course of justice and breaching two court orders.

The latest offence was in November, when, despite being disqualified, he stole a £2,000 car from someone he met at a party and sold it the next day for £40, the court heard. This put him in breach of a 32-week sentence suspended for 12 months made by Liverpool Crown Court in November 2008. He was accused of causing criminal damage while in jail. He and others caused £16,500 damage to computer equipment.

He had gone before Birmingham Crown Court in October 2008 charged with giving police officers a false name and date of birth following allegations of sexual assault in Broad Street, Birmingham, during a night out. This put him in breach of a 12-month detention training order made in November 2007 for aggravated vehicle taking.

The court heard that Rahi, who is due to become a first-time father in has a long list of previous convictions dating back to 2001.

Mr Nigel Stelling, defending, said: "His behaviour is caused by a combination of alcohol and poor cognitive skills."

He added although there was a "regularity" to the crimes they had decreased since he was younger. Recorder, Mr Murray Creed said he was persuaded not to send Rahi to prison and sentenced him to 30 weeks in a young offenders' institution, suspended for two years, for perverting the course of justice, as well as enrolment into a 'Think Skills' programme and 200 hours unpaid work. For the car theft, he gave him a 20-week consecutive sentence, suspended for two years and a 12-week sentence suspended for 12 months to run concurrently.

Mr Creed also imposed an 18-month driving ban and a curfew order.