Thief in £15k raid deserved his jail sentence, top judges rule
A thief who took part in a £15,000 raid on a furniture company has been told by top judges he deserved every day of his jail term.
Jesse Aaron Walker was part of a gang which forced its way into Auger Contracts Ltd, in Rumer Hill Road in Cannock, stealing tools, mobile phones and two company vans.
London's Criminal Appeal Court heard most of the tools stolen belonged to individuals who worked for the furniture firm and many were never recovered.
The 22-year-old, of Dimsdale Road, Northfield in Birmingham, was jailed for three years and 10 months at Stafford Crown Court in June last year.
Walker challenged his sentence at the Appeal Court, with his lawyers arguing the overall term was too long because of his low level of involvement in the raid.
But his complaints were thrown out by three of the country's most senior judges, who said his punishment was 'not excessive'.
The court heard the burglary took place in February in 2013, with the gang forcing its way into the firm's premises.
The burglars then drove away in a convoy, with the two stolen vans following behind a BMW.
Police officers gave chase to one of the stolen vans, being driven by
Walker, which crashed into a central barrier after about three miles.
Walker denied being involved in the raid but admitted he was in the stolen vehicle.
Officers later found some of the stolen items in the homes of brothers Damon and Jamil Gilligan.
Police also spotted Walker in a stolen car in January last year and he was arrested nearby.
The court heard he had nine convictions for 15 previous offences, committed between 2009 and 2013.
He had been handed a suspended sentence for a burglary in 2013, but did not co-operate with the probation service and had 'wasted every chance he had'.
His lawyers argued that his overall punishment was too long, saying he had relatively little involvement in the raid and had never been to prison before.
But, dismissing his appeal, Lord Justice Beatson said his sentence was justified.
Sitting with Mrs Justice Swift and Mr Justice Globe, he added: "This sentence was indeed long for a person who has never previously served a custodial term.
"However, in circumstances in which he repeatedly failed to respond positively when offered help by the probation service, and where he participated in an organised commercial burglary which was planned and caused substantial loss to employees, we do not consider the sentence to be excessive."
Walker was found guilty of burglary and three counts of theft relating to the raid.
He also admitted aggravated vehicle taking and was in breach of an earlier suspended sentence for another burglary.
Two other gang members - Damon Gilligan, 29, of Wiltshire Court, Tugford Road, Bournville, and Jamil Gilligan, 20, of Lydget Grove, Erdington - were handed jail terms in their absence after they went on the run.
