Telford man with knife jailed after being caught pushing cement mixer

Aaron George, 22, was stopped at 3.55am on July 5 pushing a cement mixer. Police officers took him in for questioning where he was found in possession of a knife.

The offence, which he admitted, put him in breach of a suspended sentence that was imposed in December last year for three house burglaries.

Recorder Peter Rouch QC told George he had already been given a chance by the judge previously and he had no option but to admit him to custody.

He said: “You were offered help to deal with your drug problems but you didn’t take advantage of that help and co-operate.”

“The chance was yours but you have lived a somewhat chaotic lifestyle and haven’t taken it.”

Naomi Nelson-Cofie, prosecuting, said the defendant was arrested on July 5 for pushing a cement mixer in the early hours of the morning.

At the police station before being searched, he admitted to officers he had a three-inch lock knife with him. He committed further offences by failing to attend a drugs test two days later, and then failed to attend magistrates court and warrant was executed for his arrest.

He appeared in magistrates’ court on July 27, where he admitted all the offences.

Miss Nelson-Cofie added the 18 month prison sentence suspended for two years was put in place in December for three burglaries.

She said the offence warranted six months at its highest level, but it was not a dangerous act.

Brendan Reedy, defending, said his client had committed breaches before and had not fully complied with the regulations of his order.

He said he had turned up for some appointments, but had still being taking drugs and had led a chaotic life.

He said his relationship with his family broke down and he did not have settled accommodation.

Mr Rouch QC jailed George, of Withybrook, Telford for three months for offence of possessing a bladed article. The suspended sentence was activated and one month was reduced to make it 17 months, to run consecutively. Because of time spent on curfew, Mr Rouch QC reduced three months of the sentence, sentencing George to 17 months in prison of which he will serve half.