Suspended jail term for digger thief

A “DESPERATE” man who stole a £20,000 digger was given an 18-week jail sentence suspended for 12 months by Oldham magistrates.

Darren Lee Crossley, of Sholver Hill Close, was also sentenced to 250 hours of community service, had six penalty points put on his driving licence and was told to pay £105 in compensation and costs.

The 42-year-old broke the padlock on a storage container to steal the 2.64 tonne digger, which had its keys still in the ignition, in the early hours of January 26.

He pleaded guilty to stealing the Caterpillar and driving it without insurance or the correct licence at an earlier court hearing.

He was driving the digger — which belongs to the council’s Highways department and has a top speed of 15 mph — along Balfour Street in Clarksfield when he saw a police car and fled.

After being caught and detained, he told the officer: “I’m skint and I’ve fallen behind on my mortgage — that’s why I’ve done it.”

Crossley had fallen into arrears with his mortgage after being unemployed for two years but he has since found work.