Judge says Telford electric bike thief must go to jail
Howes was told anything but jail would be “setting him up to fail”.
A monkey dust user who stole an electric bike from a domestic garage has been told prison was the only option.
Bradley Howes, of Hollybush Road, Woodside, Telford, was sentenced at Shrewsbury Crown Court, sitting at Telford Justice Centre, after admitting one count of burglary.
The offence also put the 28-year-old in breach of a previous suspended sentence order.
Dylan Wagg, prosecuting, said that Telford resident Michael Bland had noticed his £1,000 E-Urban electric bike had been stolen from his garage on March 19.
The court heard Howes had been seen lurking outside the property on CCTV - and video showed him taking the bike and cycling off.
Mr Wagg said that police did manage to recover the bike but a number of items were missing, such as a handlebar bag containing several items, such as waterproofs and a repair kit.
The court heard that Howes had been a prolific offender, and has 40 convictions for 60 offences.
They included taking a vehicle without consent, a number of shop thefts in 2024, and theft from a person in the same year.
The latest offence was Howes’ third dwelling burglary.
Danny Smith, mitigating, said there had been a “sea change” in Howes’ approach since being remanded in custody for the offence.
The barrister read a letter written by Howes, saying: “Firstly I apologise to all the victims of my behaviour past and present.
“I take full responsibility for my actions. I make no secrets I struggled with drug addiction. I was clean for over a year and in that time I moved forward with my life - I can honestly say I felt good in myself.”
He added: “My most recent remand has offered a chance to fully reflect on the direction I want my life to go in.”
The letter concluded by saying Howes wants to use his experience to help others, and potentially become a support worker.
Mr Smith urged the court to suspend any sentence, and give Howes a chance to work with the probation service to continue turning his life around.
But sentencing, Judge Trevor Meegan said that Howes had been given chances to change by the courts before - and had failed to take them.
Addressing the defendant he said that giving him a suspended sentence order would be “setting you up to fail”.
Judge Meegan said: “Residential burglary is always a serious offence. People are entitled to feel safe in their own home with their own property, and even if there there is no confrontation with violence and no damage caused it is still the invasion of a domestic property and causes distress.”
He added: “Although you are only in your late 20s you have accumulated convictions for 60 offences since 2022.”
Judge Meegan told Howes the probation service can no longer help and that he is the only person who can change his future.
He said: “You are now at the stage I am afraid that it lies exclusively within your own hands - your future as to whether you keep returning to custody with ever longer sentences.
Howes was sentenced a total of two and a half years in prison - 18 months for burglary, with 12 months consecutive from the activation of his previous suspended sentence.