Lift in stolen car proves costly

A WOMAN who accepted a lift in a stolen car which crashed into a police car, a road sign and wall, has escaped a jail sentence.

Chantelle Boreland (18), of Urmson Street, Hathershaw, was charged with aggravated vehicle taking after accepting a lift in a stolen BMW on September 18 last year.

She had been facing a possible custodial sentence despite having only been a passenger in the vehicle.

But chairman of the bench Mel Garner, at Oldham Magistrates’ Court on Friday, said: “You could have easily gone to prison but we have decided against that. You were a very lucky girl that night.”

On the night of the incident, Miss Boreland had shared a litre of cider and a litre of vodka with friends.

She left to get the bus into town and while at the bus stop she accepted a lift from three men not known to her in the BMW.

The £5,000 car, which had been stolen from Mossley the night before, was later spotted by a truck driver at 4.10am driving the wrong way down a one-way street.

When police saw it in Wallshaw Street, Mumps, two of the men jumped out and the car reversed into the police car, before knocking down the road sign and crashing into a wall.

The driver, Samuel Graham Locke (20), of Anvil Way, Oldham, pleaded guilty to four driving charges and will be sentenced at crown court.

Miss Boreland handed herself into the police station the next day.

Tim Hughes, defending, told magistrates Boreland was foolish to accept the lift but as the key was in the ignition it had not appeared to be stolen. She had no control over the incidents that followed.

He said: “She was caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. She was fearful of the men but terrified of what actually happened.”

He said she had no previous convictions, played no part in the theft and had not benefited in any way from the crime.

In a report by probation officers, Miss Boreland told them: “Never again will I be in a police station or in front of the magistrates.

“I’ve made a stupid mistake.”

Kevin Corscadden, prosecuting, applied for £200 costs as well as a £465 claim of stolen property from the owner of the car.

A further claim of £1,000 compensation for the owner’s travel costs and car insurance settlement was disregarded by magistrates.

Miss Boreland was given a 12-month community order, a six-month curfew order from 7pm to 7am at her home address, and ordered to undertake 120 hours unpaid work.

She was also ordered to pay £200 costs and £116 compensation to the car owner.