A CARLISLE man who stole a vehicle during a night-time crime spree has been jailed.
Ashley Paul Queen, 30, was handed a 25-month prison term at the city’s crown court today (WED) for a spate of illegal activity on the night of August 7.
Queen first stole the key to a Mercedes from a Carlisle address. This vehicle was driven off and found by police hours later to have been burnt out, causing £15,000 damage. In between, Queen had made off without paying for fuel at a motorway service area south of the city, stole number plates from another vehicle, damaged the gates of a business premises and failed to provide a specimen after giving a positive roadside breath test.
Queen, of Dunmallet Rigg, Carlisle, admitted a number of criminal charges, including aggravated vehicle taking, two thefts and breaching an anti-social behaviour order by driving a vehicle outside of permitted hours. Judge James Adkin heard he had 35 previous offences on his record. However, he was said by his barrister to be keen to address personal problems and start leading a law-abiding life.
Jailing Queen, Judge Adkin also ordered him to serve a two-year driving ban, adding: “You must sit an extended re-test before you ever drive again.”
