Leigh and Golborne men jailed for smashing into vans to steal catalytic converters

Alan Beck, aged 18, from Leigh and Steven Eccles, aged 20, from Golborne, appeared at Warrington Crown Court after pleading guilty to theft.

The men raided 13 Mercedes Sprinter vans at Hertz UK Ltd on Clayton Road, Birchwood, on January 12 this year.

They smashed through windows to open bonnets before using tools to remove the converters.

Cheryl Mottram, prosecuting, said that police arriving on the scene found car bonnets open on all 13 vans, with exhausts and other parts scattered on the floor.

Beck and Eccles had snuck into the compound through broken fencing.

The duo then returned the following day to break in to more Mercedes vans.

Police were alerted and both defendants were arrested with three catalytic converters recovered.

The court heard how on his arreste Eccles said: “Times are hard.”

Both Beck and Eccles have a chequered history for stealing car parts.

The raid in January meant Eccles violated a six month suspended sentence passed in October last year - for stealing catalytic converters.

Beck was also sentenced on Monday for a separate offence of stealing catalytic converters worth £3,800 in Warwick in November last year.

Gary Lawrenson, defending Beck, said the defendant began stealing converters as a 17-year-old under the instruction of others.

“He is an immature 18-year-old. I was a bit worried about him when he went into custody. It’s not something he has enjoyed.”

Sarah Griffin, defending Eccles, said he had ‘limited involvement’ and ‘succumbs easily to peer pressure’, and that imprisonment would mean he is unable to care for his sick father.

Judge Nicholas Woodward rejected the argument and said: “He knew exactly what he was doing.

“He should have thought of that before he committed these offences and (thought) if I commit these offences I may not be able to look after my dad who is very ill.”

Judge Woodward jailed Beck and Eccles for 13 months in a young offender’s Institute.