A BANNED Herefordshire man has been locked up after taking a car without consent.
Mitchell Leedham, also known as Mitchell Starkey, entered guilty pleas to on charge of theft from a vehicle, one of driving without insurance, one of taking a vehicle without the owners' consent, one of theft from a shop, and one of driving while disqualified when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford in March.
Two charges of failing to comply with a community protection notice were withdrawn.
The court heard from prosecutor Alina Iqbal that the 25-year-old had stolen a Volkswagen car key worth £150 in Hereford between January 31, 2020, and January 1, 2021, and had taken a silver Peugeot 307 without consent in Bromyard on March 6.
He had driven the same car while disqualified and without insurance in Panniers Lane, Bromyard, on the same date, the court heard.
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Leedham had further stolen three cans of Monster Energy drink worth a total of £4.50 from Bromyard's Co-operative supermarket on March 11.
Magistrates said the offences were so serious that only a custodial sentence could be justified, as the court "has rarely seen such a record for driving whilst disqualified and it cannot be overlooked".
Leedham, of Dry Thistle Close, Bromyard, was jailed for 16 weeks and disqualified from driving for 436 days. He was also ordered to pay compensation of £4.50.
No order for prosecution costs was made.
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