Jailed: Serial offender from Telford gets 20 months

Christopher Orme was sent to prison for 20 months for failing to pay for petrol while disqualified from driving.

Shrewsbury Crown Court heard that the latest offence had triggered a string of suspended sentences.

Orme, 24, of Darby Road, Coalbrookdale, was convicted on March 6 by a jury in his absence after he had failed to turn up to court having pleaded not guilty to the charge and a warrant was eventually issued for his arrest.

Orme was told he would serve half of his sentence behind bars.

Prosecutor Mr Kevin Jones said that on January 27 Orme's partner had swapped her Ford Focus for a Renault Clio and parked it outside his house while he was still in bed.

He said: "His partner was picked up by his mother and taken to work.

"At 11.04am the vehicle was driven to the Shell garage at Sutton Maddock, near Telford, £25 worth of fuel was put into it but the vehicle left without paying.

"The incident was caught on CCTV and the police were informed."

The court heard Orme has 21 previous convictions for 40 offences, which include driving with excess alcohol, driving without insurance, driving while disqualified and handling stolen goods.

The crimes had led to suspended sentences totalling 19 months and five days.

Michael Sherwood for Orme said: "He realises the time has come for these sentences to be activated.

"In my experience I have never seen so many suspended sentences continue for so long."

Judge Peter Barrie said it was clear Orme had been fortunate in the past to be given suspended sentences because of his record.

He said: "You have never taken seriously your responsibility to comply with court orders.

"A community sentence involving the probation service has to be the end of the road. They are no longer prepared to help and I entirely understand why."