'Leading player' in theft from memorial garden in Smethwick escapes justice
A man said to be 'the leading player' n the theft of ornaments stolen from a memorial garden dedicated to a teenage girl from Smethwick made a dramatic bid for freedom on the day he faced justice.
Shaun Nelson was told by district judge at Dudley Magistrates Court Graham Wilkinson he was facing jail for his part in two thefts, including one from a memorial garden for 15-year-old Ruby Mae-Reading who died in March of last year as well as a string of other offences.
But when sentencing of him and his cousin Wayne Woolley began, Nelson's father spoke up to ask if his son could be excused from court because he was his carer and needed to look after him.
Judge Wilkinson told him Nelson, aged 31, of Ford Street, Smethwick had left the building after being briefed earlier on what sentence to expect and was now wanted on licence.
He said: "Your son is wanted on a variety of charges including driving ones and has a long history of offending. If he was thinking of you and your care he wouldn't have absconded - I am sorry to hear you are not well but it is our NHS who will have to look after you."
