Borehamwood man jailed for handling stolen goods

9:01am Monday 12th May 2008

A Borehamwood man has been jailed for two years for handling stolen goods and driving while disqualified.

Joseph Thompson, 35, was spotted by police driving a Subaru Legacy car near his home in Morpeth Avenue on November 15 last year, despite having been banned from driving, St Albans Crown Court heard last Thursday.Prosecutor David Chrimes said officers searched his home on March 19 and discovered £4,500 worth of property that had been stolen during four burglaries.The stolen items included jewellery and USB computer memory sticks that contained family photographs and personal correspondence.When questioned, Thompson first said he got the items from a shop in Pinner, Harrow, but later changed his story to say he had bought them "from the proverbial man in the pub," said Mr Chrimes.Thompson appeared for sentence having pleaded guilty last month to four charges of handling and one of driving while disqualified.He had 41 previous convictions for offences including burglary, dangerous driving and driving while banned.Defence barrister James Austin-Smith asked for credit for Thompson's guilty plea.But Judge John Plumstead told him: "I am afraid I see you as someone who ignores the law and goes on your own way. "You will have to stop offending, or you will end up growing old in prison."

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