Walsall gang stole TV and sent it to buyer in taxi
Three men got drunk and stole a £750 television from a home in the Black Country, a court heard.
Matthew Keay, Darren Abley and Philip Ranford then flogged the TV by sending it in a taxi to a buyer's house.
Wolverhampton Crown Court was told that the taxi driver assisted in locating the burglars who were given prison sentences of between eight and 10 months.
Two of the men – Abley and Ranford – had more than 70 previous convictions between them, many for burglary.
During the evening of February 12 earlier this year the men were drinking in a pub in Bloxwich. Meanwhile the occupier at a nearby house was at work, on a night shift, and returned home just before midnight to find his home had been burgled. The homeowner had received a notification on his mobile phone showing that an alarm system at his home had been triggered.
Witnesses looking out of their windows had noticed three people going to the address, then later saw the same three people carrying the 50-inch television.
Prosecutor Mr Paul Spratt yesterday told the court: "There may have been some element of planning involved as the defendant works nights and had been burgled before."
The taxi driver had been called to another address where a female asked him to take the TV to someone's house.
Police traced the TV via the taxi driver, where the man who had it in his possession told officers he had received a television and paid £250 for it.
Abley, aged 35 and of Wilkins House in Sand Bank, Walsall, and 33-year-old Ranford, of Parker Street in Bloxwich, pleaded guilty to burglary. Keay, 23 and of Drake Road in Bloxwich, initially pleaded not guilty but later changed this to guilty.
Miss Sally Cairns, defending Keay, said: "He didn't go out that evening with the intention of committing any offence." Mr Oliver Woolhouse defended both Abley and Ranford in court. He said: "All three have said they were out drinking heavily." Of Ranford he added: "It's a combination of a relapse of heroin with ill-judged behaviour."
Abley and Ranford were given eight month custodial sentence, with Keay handed 10 months as his guilty plea came later.
Recorder Geoffrey Kelly told them: "You all know dwelling house burglaries are considered serious by these courts. I take into account this was a relatively expensive item and that you acted as a gang."
