Sunderland thief jailed after stealing Sainsbury's van delivering food to homes during pandemic

Darren Thoburn jumped behind the wheel of a Sainbury's vehicle outside the store in Washington while the driver was tending to a spillage in the car park last June.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the 34-year-old, who was three times the drink-drive limit "sped off" in the van, drove onto a track area where he "narrowly missed" three pedestrians and finally crashed into a tree.

When the van was recovered one of the wheels was down to the rim and a total of £4,500 of damage had been caused to it.

Prosecutor Anthony Petengell told the court the impact of such thefts on a national business would ordinarily be relatively small.

But he added: "At the time of the theft we were in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"The online order side of the business meant every available vehicle was needed in order to process orders and keep members of the public stocked up with vital supplies, as we were locked down.

"Being down a vehicle as a result of the theft had a dramatic impact on the service they were able to provide."

Thoburn, of Cairo Street, Sunderland, who has 127 offences on his record, admitted aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, driving with excess alcohol and having no insurance.

He also admitted burglary after he smashed his way into Olivia's coffee house in Washington during an overnight raid.

The coffee shop break-in, where he caused £1,000 of damage, happened four days before he took the Sainsbury's van.

Judge Robert Adams sentenced Thoburn to a total of 12 months behind bars with a three-and-a-half year road ban.

The judge told him: "All vehicles were need to deliver to people during the pandemic.

"One vehicle out of action caused significant disruption."

Tony Cornberg, defending, said Thoburn has stayed out of trouble since he committed the offences last summer and has started an exercise and health regime with a plan of finding a new home and getting back into work.

Mr Cornberg said: "He seems to have turned a corner and started taking care of himself."

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