A TEENAGER who stole a dumper truck and went on a £35,000 rampage across countryside near York, smashing speed cameras, road signs and gates, has walked free from court.
Matthew Bielby, 19, stole the truck from a construction yard on the A1, near Cowthorpe, Wetherby.
He then sat in the passenger seat while the driver, who has never been found, smashed the truck into speed cameras, road signs and farm gates, before ramming the vehicle into a phone box. They caused £35,000 worth of damage, York Crown Court heard.
Bielby, of Harrogate, escaped prison. He was sentenced to a six-month suspended sentence and 300 hours of community labour, and disqualified from driving for two years.
Bielby, who pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking, appeared in court yesterday with his elder brother Thomas Bielby, 21, and four friends; David Pawson, 20, Andrew Kitchen, 19, Daniel Simpson, 20 and Christopher Bowes, 18.
The men live in the Wetherby area and admitted arson, conspiracy to commit arson and conspiracy to commit criminal damage. They received suspended jail and community sentences.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article