Homeless banned driver caught behind wheel of stolen car

Ricky Sadler was spotted by police the day after the Honda Civic was stolen during a burglary in the Horden area.

The homeless 34-year-old was pulled over on the A689 near Billingham on August 8 last year when officers discovered he was a disqualified driver, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Charlie Thompson, prosecuting, said the car was returned to its owner with a small dent to the rear.

In a victim impact statement, the new mother said the burglary had left her wanting to leave the area.

She said: “This incident has made me feel very anxious whilst being in my own home, especially as a new mam caring for my daughter.

“Initially when my car was stolen it impacted me so much because I was unable to leave the house due to my daughter’s pram being in the boot of the car.”

The court heard how the defendant had 38 convictions for 65 offences including 18 theft related charges and nine driving offences.

Sadler, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to driving whilst disqualified, handling stolen goods and driving without insurance.

Kelly Clarke, mitigating, said the father-of-three was hoping to rebuild his relationship with his children when he is released from custody.

“He is sorry for the offending,” she said. “He was going through a bad period in his life at the time as he had suffered a break-up with his partner and things had spiralled – he lost control of all of his sense and reasoning.”

Read more:

• Dangerous driver 'lucky' not to have killed someone during police chases
• Burglar left children 'scared and startled' when they found him in their home
• Violent bully threatened to shoot his partner and police with air rifle

Judge Jonathan Carroll sentenced Sadler to 11 months and two weeks behind bars for all offences.

He said: "The complainant, a young mum with a young child, needed that car to get about her everyday life and deal with her daughter – the impact of the loss of the car was significant to them.

“You had a cavalier regard to that because you were using it for your own purposes.”

Sadler was also banned from driving for just under two years.