A PAIR of thieves used vehicle-unlocking devices, fake number plates and a getaway car after stealing £1,800 worth of tools in a ‘sophisticated’ van theft outside a tool shop.

Gerrard Ward, 23, of Lexington Grove, Reading, was jailed for 12 months for his part in the van raid, which occurred outside Selco hardware store on Portman Road, Reading in November 2020.

His accomplice, John McDonagh, 28, of Featherstone Road, Southall, was spared jail despite hitting a police car in a police chase following the raid.

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The victim estimated his loss to be £1,800 in tools -- which he still has not replaced and which he will receive no compensation for -- plus £450 in lost earnings.

He was made aware of his van being broken into when he was asked by staff at Selco if he had work colleagues with him using his vehicle.

A court heard how the victim rushed outside to see what was happening when he discovered his van had been broken into with his lock mechanism broken.

He realised his tools had been stolen and reported the incident to police.

In a statement, he said: “This incident made me really angry and annoyed.

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“I hope the court sentence reflects the inconvenience this has caused.”

Police located the pair’s getaway car after it was spotted using number plate recognition systems on the M4.

Officers attempted to stop the car but the driver -- McDonagh -- drove off and in doing so hit a police car.

The pair were eventually brought to a halt and a vehicle-unlocking device, five number plates, and a number of tools and a crowbar used for breaking into the van were discovered inside.

None of the items belonging to the victim were recovered, however.

Prosecutor Mr Happe said: “This was a sophisticated offence with a high degree of planning through the use of a special key device, five number plates and the use of a group vehicle to get away from the scene.”

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Sarah McIntryre defended both McDonagh and Ward at their sentencing.

She told Her Honour Judge Campbell that McDonagh was a father of seven, illiterate and formerly part of the travelling community.

However, since the incident, he had been able to hold down a job washing cars for NHS staff.

“It is something he feels that has made a big difference to his life”, Ms McIntyre said.

She also claimed he had been working with probation officers to learn to read.

Ward, however, had previously missed a court hearing through coronavirus-related isolation issues and was late for his sentencing at Reading Crown Court this afternoon (Monday, September 27).

Ms McIntyre told the judge Ward was hoping to get a job handling parcels but the 23-year-old, who is a father to one and whose partner is expecting, could not offer proof of this as his phone was out of charge.

The defence counsel said this incident was the first ‘trouble’ he had been in since 2016 as he was ‘trying to turn his life around.’

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Sentencing, Judge Campbell told McDonagh that in light of his employment and his work with the probation service that she would give him a ‘chance’ and spare him jail time.

He was handed a 12-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months but must carry out 80 hours of unpaid work.

But Ward was not as fortunate and he was sentenced to a custodial sentence of 12 months.

Both men were sentenced at Reading Crown Court on Monday, September 27 after admitting to theft, going equipped for theft and causing criminal damage to property.