A takeaway driver’s car was stolen after refusing a ride. The thief received a suspended sentence and community service.
The driver refused Walker’s request. Walker then ran around the car and took the car keys. Next, he drove away in the car, which had a tracker inside. Police found the car later.
Walker got a suspended prison sentence of seven months, suspended for 18 months. The victim was delivering fast food when this happened around 7 PM on August 20, 2023, and his car was a Volkswagen Golf.
Walker and his brother walked to him, and Walker asked the man for a ride. The man refused, and Walker seemed agitated. The delivery man felt scared by them and gave his car keys to Walker.
Walker then drove off in the man’s car with his brother as a passenger. The man told the police right away about the car’s tracker. Police found the car on Woodhead Road in Abbey Hulton.
The victim identified Walker, who then admitted he stole the car but claimed he didn’t use violence. Walker admitted to the theft charge on December 20, 2023.
His lawyer said Walker showed off because his brother was there. The car was not damaged during the theft, and the lawyer said it was a quick, unplanned decision, acknowledging it was bad for the victim.
Walker wants to improve his life and is learning how to do plastering. He feels bad about what happened, and prison could hurt his family, according to his lawyer, who suggested he can repay the community with work.
The judge gave him unpaid work, 150 hours of it, along with a rehabilitation order. The judge said it wasn’t planned, noting Walker talked to the driver first, seeming like they were discussing a ride before Walker took the car keys and drove off.
The judge thinks Walker showed off and the victim felt pressured by him. Walker seemed intimidating, according to the judge.