Former soldier jailed after being 'bullied into burglary'

AN EX-SERVICEMAN who was discharged from the Army after suffering an accident on his pushbike has been jailed for four years.

Jamie Winter (25), of Farquhar Road, Maltby, was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court on December 13 for a string of offences.

Winter stole a Volkswagen panel van on December 11 last year, which he used to burgle Thurcroft Auto Centre the following day.

“The owner was made aware that part of the building was insecure,” said Ms Katy Rafter, prosecuting.

“He looked at the CCTV and it showed the panel van, containing three males, pulling in.

“The window was forced, causing £200 worth of damage, and two alloy wheels from inside, each worth £100, were stolen.”

The prosecutor said Winter had been “bullied into” the burglary by his two co-offenders, who were not named in court.

Police spotted the van on Leicester Road, Sheffield, later that day with Winter in the passenger seat, Ms Rafter said.

The van did not stop and when officers tried to box it in, it reversed into a police car, causing £868 worth of damage.

Chased at speeds of up to 65mph, the van mounted the kerb to avoid other motorists, Ms Rafter said.

The chase continued through a hedge and into a farmer’s field before the van stopped and the offenders were caught.

Winter denied being responsible for the burglary when quizzed by police, Ms Rafter said.

He said he had travelled to Thurcroft Auto Centre but he had not gone inside and claimed someone had threatened to stab him if he refused to drive the van.

Winter later admitted burglary, theft and aggravated vehicle taking.

While he was on bail for those offences, he stole a Bedford Rascal campervan from a woman’s driveway and damaged the vehicle’s steering column.

His fingerprints were found on the vehicle and he later admitted he had stolen it.

Winter also admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm in connection with an unrelated incident.

Mr Andrew Smith, mitigating, said Winter had fractured his skull in 2011 while on leave from the Army after a friend loosened a wheel on his bicycle.

He said that, since the accident Winter, had become forgetful and was prone to losing his temper.