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Naked Ugg boot ram-raider jailed | Naked Ugg boot ram-raider jailed |
(30 minutes later) | |
A man who ram-raided a supermarket dressed in only a pair of Ugg boots has been jailed for four years. | A man who ram-raided a supermarket dressed in only a pair of Ugg boots has been jailed for four years. |
David Ball, 32, from Tyseley, Birmingham, ram-raided a supermarket and stole about £1,500 of cigarettes. | David Ball, 32, from Tyseley, Birmingham, ram-raided a supermarket and stole about £1,500 of cigarettes. |
He was chased by a police vehicle through rural Warwickshire before being arrested after the incident in April. | He was chased by a police vehicle through rural Warwickshire before being arrested after the incident in April. |
Ball was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court for aggravated vehicle taking, burglary, driving with excess alcohol and other driving offences. | Ball was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court for aggravated vehicle taking, burglary, driving with excess alcohol and other driving offences. |
As well as being sentenced to four years in jail, he was also given an additional 51-week jail term from an earlier suspended sentence. | As well as being sentenced to four years in jail, he was also given an additional 51-week jail term from an earlier suspended sentence. |
Ball was two-and-half times over the drink-driving limit when he was arrested and told police he had no recollection of the offence and had been asleep in the back of the car. | |
'No recollection' | |
However, when shown the CCTV footage, he said he remembered the crime and pleaded guilty. And this guilty plea was taken into consideration for the sentencing. | |
The judge said Ball had "50 to 60" convictions for theft which dated back to 1990 and had spent a number of "short spells" in jail. | The judge said Ball had "50 to 60" convictions for theft which dated back to 1990 and had spent a number of "short spells" in jail. |
He was arrested after a police chase following the incident on 16 April. He pleaded guilty at Solihull Magistrates' Court the next day. | He was arrested after a police chase following the incident on 16 April. He pleaded guilty at Solihull Magistrates' Court the next day. |
The court heard how Ball had stolen his girlfriend Tricia Dowling's Ugg boots and Renault Clio before the crime. | The court heard how Ball had stolen his girlfriend Tricia Dowling's Ugg boots and Renault Clio before the crime. |
The prosecution told Birmingham Crown Court Ball had "very little recollection" of the night. | |
The court was shown CCTV footage of him repeatedly ram-raiding a Co-op in Balsall Common in the West Midlands. | |
Baby due | |
His defence barrister Tom Kenning said it was an "an extremely unusual offence" and that his client had demonstrated "extraordinary behaviour". | His defence barrister Tom Kenning said it was an "an extremely unusual offence" and that his client had demonstrated "extraordinary behaviour". |
Mr Kenning said the death of Ball's grandmother had badly affected him and contributed to him committing crimes, when he had began getting his life together. | Mr Kenning said the death of Ball's grandmother had badly affected him and contributed to him committing crimes, when he had began getting his life together. |
He also told the judge Ball's girlfriend was expecting their baby and this should be considered in the sentencing. | He also told the judge Ball's girlfriend was expecting their baby and this should be considered in the sentencing. |
Three years of his sentence was for burglary and he was given a 12-month sentence for aggravated vehicle taking. | |
Ball, who was chased by police doing 80mph on a road with a 40mph speed limit, was also disqualified from driving for three years. | |
As Ball was led from the dock, he gave a thumbs-up sign to family and friends who had come to the court to support him. |