Doncaster thief went on two-day crime spree

Liam Askin acted as "lookout" when a £20,000 Mercedes was stolen from the drive of a house in Hatfield, on July 22.

He and an accomplice broke into the detached house by breaking the conservatory lock, and also stole an electric strimmer and the keys to a Range Rover, said prosecutor Brian Outhwaite.

Askin also stole a £1,000 motorbike from a garden in Dunscroft, and left it damaged beyond repair in a ditch.

Its owner, who only received £300 on the insurance, was left without transport to work.

CCTV showed him buying items on a stolen bank card while its owner was "blissfully unaware of the frauds," but only accepted making one of the illegal transactions that were made between 06.32am and 9.54am, of July 23, when £105 of goods were bought.

The court heard Askin made no comment in police interview. He has previous convictions for burglary in 2018 and handling stolen goods in 2019. He stands to be sentenced for theft fro a vehicle at the magistrates' court in November.

Cheryl Dudley, mitigating, said Askin had been living in his grandfather's shed, and failed to make a successful claim for benefits after his release for the 2019 offences.

"He gives the impression of someone who is easily-led," she said, adding that he didn't return to drug use on his release.

Askin, 22, care of Poplar Road, Dunscroft, Hatfield, pleaded guilty to the offences.

Recorder Mark McKone sentenced him to three years in prison.

Read the latest cases from Sheffield Crown Court here.

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