A ‘stupid’ lad was spotted driving a stolen Land Rover just 15 minutes after it was reported missing - he said he was supposed to be getting £100 for the job.
George Clare, 22, came to the attention of officers after the courtesy car was nicked in August 2019.
The woman who owned the car was still in possession of the keys and so reported the stolen vehicle to the police.
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The Land Rover Discovery, worth £26,000, was seen just fifteen minutes later nearby by patrolling officers.
Minshull Street Crown Court heard that Clare, of Dukinfield, was driving the stolen car for just £100 as part of a bigger enterprise.
Both the sentencing judge and his defence barrister said his actions were ‘stupid’.
Pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to handling stolen goods, Clare walked free from court with a community order.
Prosecuting, Rachel Faux told the court that on August 2 2019, a woman was in possession of the Land Rover worth £26,000, which she was using as a courtesy car whilst her car was being repaired in Oldham.
“Just before 12.30pm she realised her car was missing, but she was still in possession of the keys so called the police,” Ms Faux said.
“Ten to fifteen minutes later, officers were on patrol in the area looking for the vehicle.
“An officer was in his vehicle when the Land Rover passed him on the other side of the road.”
After turning around, the officer followed Clare, eventually boxing him in near to some bollards.
Clare attempted to run off, but was quickly apprehended and arrested nearby.
He was said to have one previous conviction for affray, for which he received a community order just three days before these offences were committed.
His defence counsel Patrick Buckley said: “This was nearly two years ago now, and the previous order was completed in two months.
“He is a young man, he was 20 when he did it. It was very stupid and he knows that.
“All this for £100.”
Sentencing, Judge Tina Landale told him: “Mr Buckley sums up what you did; you were stupid and you have now a second conviction for that stupidity.
“And though it was stupid, it was criminal, and you played a significant although limited role in the enterprise.”
Clare, of Church Meadow, was handed a 12 month community order and ordered to complete 100 hours unpaid work.
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