Man jailed after being caught behind the wheel of Harpenden stolen Audi

A man from Luton was jailed for 22 months today (Monday) after being found behind the wheel of an Audi stolen from a Harpenden home.

The £25,500 Audi A3 was taken from a house in Andrews Avenue, Harpenden, alongside an £800 bike and a pair of Helly Hansen gloves overnight on February 1 while a couple and their three children were asleep.

Timothy Hall, 38, was seen getting into the car by a police officer on February 4, and later arrested near his home on Talbot Road, Luton, where officers discovered the bike and gloves in his boot.

He pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods and was sentenced at St Albans Crown Court today. Hall had 19 convictions for 58 offences, 22 of which were for theft.

John Lyons, defending, said Hall had nothing to do with the burglary. He said that he had been approached on February 3 and was asked to assist in selling it.

He added: “It is a great shame he was seduced by the need for money. It was not something that was pre-planned.”

Mr Lyons said Hall was trying to get his life on an even keel and was attempting to stay out of trouble.

Judge Jonathan Carroll said: “If you wish to go straight when people come offering goods you should not get involved.”